NewzIntel.com

Category: Education

  • MIL-OSI USA: Justice Department Addresses Religious Discrimination in Lawsuit for Former Teacher Denied Exemption from Vaccine Mandate

    Source: US Justice – Antitrust Division

    Headline: Justice Department Addresses Religious Discrimination in Lawsuit for Former Teacher Denied Exemption from Vaccine Mandate

    The Justice Department announced that a federal judge has approved a consent decree that settles its lawsuit against the Advanced Science and Technology Education Charter Schools (ASTEC) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The lawsuit alleges ASTEC discriminated against Marcus Rethwill, a former teacher at the school, on the basis of religion, in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, when it terminated him after denying his request for a religious exemption from ASTEC’s vaccine mandate for employees because he could not provide a clergy letter supporting his request. Title VII is a federal statute that prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin or religion.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: In Seattle, Senator Murray Highlights Consequences of Trump & Elon’s Cuts & Layoffs at NIH—Hears from Leading Researchers, Patients, and Early Career Scientists

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    ICYMI: At Hearing, Senator Murray Slams Trump Administration for Threatening Biomedical Research and Jeopardizing Americans’ Health
    NIH Investments support more than $3 billion in economic activity across Washington State and more than 12,000 jobs – MORE HERE
    ***AUDIO HERE; PHOTOS and B-ROLL HERE***
    Seattle, WA— Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, held a roundtable discussion in Seattle highlighting why the investments the federal government makes in biomedical research are so vital, what’s at stake for patients and families as Trump takes a wrecking ball to this research, and why Congress must forcefully push back. Murray was joined by Seattle area leaders in biomedical research of national renown, patients who have benefitted directly from NIH research, and early career researchers who can speak directly to how Trump’s cuts and chaos are jeopardizing the future of biomedical research in America.
    During the roundtable, Senator Murray was joined by Dr. Jeff Sperring, Seattle Children’s Chief Executive Officer; Dr. Vittorio Gallo, Seattle Children’s Chief Scientific Officer; Dr. Mary-Claire King, American Cancer Society Professor of Medicine and Genome Sciences, UW School of Medicine; Dr. Jane Hoyt Buckner, M.D., President of Benaroya Research Institute; Kristin Weinstein, PhD candidate at UW School of Medicine; and Alisa Vitello along with her daughter, Olivia Vitello, who benefitted from medication developed through an NIH clinical trial.
    President Trump and his administration has systematically undermined NIH and the research it funds, which is having devastating impacts on biomedical research, innovation, and ultimately, the lives of millions of patients and families. The Trump administration’s actions are delaying funding and stalling research for lifesaving treatments and cures, weakening our biomedical workforce, cancelling vital ongoing studies and trials, and threatening to undo decades of hard-won progress.
    “Medical research is an economic powerhouse—it supports millions of jobs across the country, especially here in Washington state, and generates billions in economic activity. NIH funding is the cornerstone of our medical research enterprise, while medical research accounts for less than 1 percent of the federal budget, NIH has contributed to over 99 percent of drugs approved by FDA in recent years,” said Senator Murray. “But the real impact isn’t economic, it isn’t jobs, it isn’t awards, it is miracles that give people hope and more time with loved ones. That could mean a new vaccine to protect us from a disease. It could mean new treatment that saves lives. Or a breakthrough discovery that revolutionizes care and research, like Dr. King’s work showing a gene tied to breast cancer.”
    “That is all invaluable—but with President Trump—it is all on the chopping block,” continued Senator Murray. “He has already axed 800 grants, over a billion dollars in research for HIV prevention, breast cancer, pregnancy, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and more. He has also blocked $2 billion in grant funding from going out to universities and research institutions across the country.He slapped a $1 limit on NIH researchers’ payment cards—meaning labs can’t get gloves, pipettes, and vials—the basics they need to keep research going.He wants to massively cut funding for basic costs that keep labs running.And Trump is calling for at least an $18 billion cut to NIH funding. And it’s not just funding Trump has cut—it’s the workforce. Trump has pushed out nearly 5,000 people at NIH and counting.He is slashing grants to support early educators. And he is pushing out and scaring away international students. We are seeing canceled trials and delayed research. We must keep up the public pressure. People need to know what is happening. They need to know what is at stake.”
    Murray’s roundtable discussion follows a bipartisan Senate Appropriations Committee hearing she co-led this week, where she invited testimony from Washington state mom and patient advocate, Emily Stenson, whose daughter Charlie was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer at just three years old but who, thanks to a National Cancer Institute clinical trial at Seattle Children’s Hospital, has been cancer free since December 2024.
    “Children are our future, and we drive advances—like improving survival rates for children with brain tumors, developing new therapies for rare diseases, and transforming care for kids with complex behavioral health needs—through research,” said Dr. Vittorio Gallo, Chief Scientific Officer at Seattle Children’s. “Without sustained NIH investment, nearly 200 clinical trials at Seattle Children’s could be delayed or paused. Funding is critical for us to deliver on our mission to provide hope, care and cures.”
    “I wanted to first tell you what’s happened to me in consequence of this craziness. I am now owed—4 months later—$1.8 million of a noncompetitive renewal on a project that has been approved at all scientific levels. The Notice of Grant Award has been signed. It was to begin last January 1. It has simply not been sent. It’s not canceled. It just hasn’t come. Somehow it is frozen. No reason has been given. There is no DEI component, it’s only sequencing of DNA…There are probably thousands more like me. That estimate of the of the total cost—the total deficit into those 800 [grants]—I think is only a very small fraction of the actual amount of money that we need as researchers, that has been guaranteed for us. They will need to burn this money if they don’t send it. This money is allocated to the University of Washington. They can’t use it for anything else. They might as well take out the bills and just burn them. In addition to the research itself, it supports 4 young investigators. We’re now 4 months in with their having no salaries from that grant. I’m using my own salary, I’m using gifts that I’ve been accumulating for 50 years to pay them. So far so good, but we’ll run out pretty quickly. Grants like this need to be dislodged from the iceberg in which they are now frozen,” said Dr. Mary-Claire King, American Cancer Society Professor of Medicine and Genome Sciences at UW School of Medicine. Dr. King was the first person to show that breast cancer can be inherited due to mutations in the gene she called BRCA1. Dr. King also shared the story of a woman who participated in one of her projects, “She said, ‘My mother died of breast cancer when I was 14. She missed my high school graduation. She missed the decisions about my going to college. She missed my college graduation. She missed my marriage. She missed the birth of her granddaughter. When I learned that it was possible to have testing to learn if I was predisposed to breast cancer, I was tested right away. I have a mutation in BRCA 1, that surely is what killed her. As soon as I was old enough, I had the same surgery that Angelina Jolie had, and I am now fine. My daughter graduates from high school this June, and I will be there. Just thought, you want to know.’ We owe it to her to bring the NIH back to health. So, thanks very much for what you’re doing.”
    “We study immune diseases, particularly autoimmune diseases and allergies. [Autoimmune diseases] affect 25 to 50 million Americans. [Allergies] affect 25% of Americans, in fact two kids in every classroom. And we’re funded 70% by the National Institute of Health, and that work you know, that supports fundamentally understanding these diseases and also clinical trials to test the next new therapy. As well as ways to prevent ever getting a disease like type one diabetes. We want kids never to have to face using insulin every day…I do this because I’m also a physician and a rheumatologist, so I care for people with arthritis, and I’ve been doing that for 30 years. And for the first 10 years of my career, we didn’t have much for my patients and our waiting rooms were filled with wheelchairs. You had to reorganize furniture for our patients. And then drugs called biologics were discovered—in fact, one of the first ones came from the Seattle area—and literally, patients got out of wheelchairs and walked in a week. That research started 30 years before, and that was funded by NIH research, and it would have actually never become a product if those studies hadn’t been done. Today, I still see patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and they’re doing so much better. We don’t have wheelchairs in our waiting rooms anymore,” said Dr. Jane Hoyt Buckner, M.D., President of Benaroya Research Institute. “You may not know you need the cure that is going to be discovered through this research, but in 10 years you may, or your family member may, and by not funding the NIH, some of those cures won’t be there in 10 years. And I also think some of our young people who are trying to choose a career in science are going to be turned away. And it’s only been 100 days, but the chaos that’s been created in that 100 days is already impacting people. We see it now, people choosing not to go to graduate school, people choosing alternative careers, scientists thinking I should move out of the United States. And I can also say I’m fortunate to work very closely with many people at the NIH, particularly on clinical trials trying to cure diseases of the immune system, and they are struggling to continue to do that work. They’re understaffed, they aren’t able to get things out, and they don’t know what’s going to happen next. I know they’re really looking to Congress to help us find a way out of this.”
    “Unstable funding from the NIH for biomedical research will have long-lasting, devastating impacts. Early career scientists like myself will be forced to go abroad to continue our training, patients will unnecessarily suffer or die from the diseases that this research could cure, and the United States will cede its position as the global leader in biomedical research,” said Kristin Weinstein, PhD candidate at UW School of Medicine. “I am holding onto the hope that the American public and its leadership will recognize the vital importance of biomedical research, reinstate federal funding for this work, and support our hard-working scientists. At the end of the day, I just want to be in the lab doing what I love most: Making scientific discoveries that will lead to cures for diseases like cancer and autoimmunity.”
    Trump and Elon Musk’s DOGE have terminated nearly 800 NIH grants across the country, cutting off more than $1.1 billion in essential research and trials and continue to terminate more grants every week. So far this year, he has slow walked roughly $2 billion in vital NIH funding that should be going out the door to fund the research that might discover the next treatment or cure that will change—or save—a patient’s life.  
    These grant terminations are a result of the Trump Administration’s Executive Orders against whatever it deems DEI and targeted attacks on specific academic research institutions, which are disrupting landmark diabetes research, targeting promising mRNA vaccines, and spreading vaccine hesitancy amidst a measles outbreak. A full list of HHS grant terminations can be found here. To date, NIH grant terminations include: 
    Grants that fund research on HIV prevention, breast cancer, uterine cancer, stroke risk, cardiac health, suicide prevention, smoking cessation, eating disorders, COVID-19, pain, alcohol use disorder, depression, violence prevention in children, pregnancy health disparities, diabetes and obesity, and Alzheimer’s disease; 
    More than 270 grants totaling at least $125 million for research focused on improving the health of LGBTQ Americans; 
    Stop work orders for all NIH training grants that support diverse undergraduate and graduate students and early career scientists, including the Undergraduate Research Training Initiative for Student Enhancement (U-RISE), the Maximizing Opportunities for Scientific and Academic Independent Careers (MOSAIC), and F31 Diversity training programs. 
    The Trump Administration’s actions, including directly terminating early career training programs funded by NIH, are devastating the pipeline of early career researchers and threatening the next generation of breakthroughs, treatments, and cures. On March 31st, an open letter signed by nearly 2,000 of the country’s top scientists including a number of Nobel Prize winners urged the Administration to stop its wholesale assault on U.S. science, which is decimating research, driving scientists to leave the country and putting America at risk of losing a generation of scientists. 
    Trump has illegally sought to cut billions in funding for universities to conduct this vital research by illegally capping the indirect cost rate in direct violation of bipartisan appropriations law—a federal judge has issued a nationwide injunction against the cap on indirect costs, but the Trump administration is appealing the ruling. The uncertainty around NIH’s indirect cost rate policy has led universities and research institutions around the country to implement hiring freezes, rescind graduate student admissions offers, and shutter entire graduate school programs. 
    President Trump has pushed out nearly 5,000 NIH employees and 4,000 FDA employees—decimating the very work responsible for discovering lifechanging treatments and cures and ensuring they can safely get to market. He also reportedly plans to propose to nearly halve NIH’s budget.
    Senator Murray has been leading the charge against the Trump administration’s efforts to gut lifesaving research at NIH and pushed out nearly 5,000 NIH skilled scientists, grants administrators, and other employees at the agency. When the Trump administration attempted to illegally cap indirect cost rates at 15 percent, Senator Murray immediately and forcefully condemned the move, led the entire Senate Democratic caucus in a letter decrying the proposed change, and introduced amendments to Senate Republicans’ budget resolution to reverse it, which Republicans blocked.
    As a longtime appropriator and former Chair of the Senate HELP Committee, Murray has led Congressional efforts to boost biomedical research. Previously, over her years as Chair of the Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Murray secured billions of dollars in increases for biomedical research at NIH, and during her time as Chair of the HELP Committee she established the new ARPA-H research agency as part of her PREVENT Pandemics Act to advance some of the most cutting-edge research in the field. Senator Murray was also the lead Democratic negotiator of the bipartisan 21st Century Cures Act, which delivered a major federal investment to boost NIH research, among many other investments. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Justice Department Addresses Religious Discrimination in Lawsuit for Former Teacher Denied Exemption from Vaccine Mandate

    Source: United States Department of Justice

    The Justice Department today announced that a federal judge has approved a consent decree that settles its lawsuit against the Advanced Science and Technology Education Charter Schools (ASTEC) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The lawsuit alleges ASTEC discriminated against Marcus Rethwill, a former teacher at the school, on the basis of religion, in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, when it terminated him after denying his request for a religious exemption from ASTEC’s vaccine mandate for employees because he could not provide a clergy letter supporting his request. Title VII is a federal statute that prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin or religion.

    “When employees’ religious principles conflict with work rules, they should not be forced to choose between practicing their religion and keeping their jobs if a reasonable accommodation can be made,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Employer policies that rigidly restrict how employees can demonstrate the sincerity of their religious beliefs for religious accommodations are inconsistent with the breadth of Title VII’s protection against religious discrimination.” 

    “No employee should be forced to violate their religious beliefs just to keep their job,” said U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester for the Western District of Oklahoma. “Employers must take care not to craft or apply policies that require employees to forfeit their religious beliefs or impose unreasonable conditions that question the sincerity of those beliefs.”

    Under the consent decree, ASTEC will pay Rethwill $95,000 in monetary damages, revise its anti-religious discrimination policy, and provide mandatory training on the policy to personnel.

    The Oklahoma City Area Office of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) investigated and attempted to resolve Rethwill’s charge of discrimination before referring it to the Justice Department for litigation. More information about the EEOC is available on its website at www.eeoc.gov.

    The full and fair enforcement of Title VII is a top priority of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available at www.justice.gov/crt/.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner & Kaine Statement on President’s Budget Request

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
    Published: May 02 2025

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) released the following statement after President Donald Trump released his Fiscal Year 2026 discretionary budget request to Congress:
    “The budget the President released today reflects what we’ve seen over the past 103 days—that the Trump Administration is laser-focused on taking a chainsaw to important government programs that Americans rely on so that they can cut taxes for billionaires. This cruel budget would cut critical funding for education, such as Federal Work Study; substance use disorder prevention; rural development; housing; support for small businesses; research into cancer and other diseases; cybersecurity; foreign assistance; violence prevention, including Jabara-Heyer NO Hate grants; and more. It would also roll back funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and other historic legislation that we were proud to help pass in Congress. As Congress continues negotiating a budget in the coming months, we are committed to pushing back against these massive cuts that will harm Virginians and our economy and make communities less safe.”   

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Free camps for ACT public primary schools

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    All ACT primary school students will be able to attend a free camp at Birrigai during their primary school years.

    In brief:

    • The ACT Government will provide one free school camp at Birrigai for every student during their primary years.
    • The free camps will be held at Birrigai Outdoor School from term 1 this year.

    The ACT Government will provide one free school camp at Birrigai for every primary school student, with free camps starting in term 1 this year.

    Camps will be held at Birrigai Outdoor School, near Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve.

    It’s expected that one year group from each ACT public primary school will attend a free camp each year.

    This will allow all ACT primary school students to attend a free camp during their primary school years.

    Allowing everyone to participate

    This new program means families won’t have to miss out due to cost.

    School camps are an important part of the educational experience. The program ensures all students can attend.

    The program roll out

    It’s anticipated that more than 1000 students will benefit from the program in the first half of the year.

    Additional school bookings will open in the coming weeks.

    Work is underway to support the roll out of the program’s first phase in the first half of 2025. 

    Schools will communicate to their school communities as plans are finalised.

    Semester 1 2025 bookings are subject to availability.

    Ensuring equity in education

    Equity is one of the four principles of the ACT Government’s Future of Education Strategy.

    The program comes in addition to other initiatives aimed at helping Canberra families with school costs. These include:

    • free three-year-old preschool
    • the Future of Education Equity Fund
    • a Chromebook for every public secondary school student.

    Find out more at education.act.gov.au

    Read more like this

    Get ACT news and events delivered straight to your inbox, sign up to our email newsletter:


    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: First students for Aunty Agnes Shea High School

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The new school’s logo and uniform design derive from an artwork created by Aunty Agnes Shea’s granddaughter.

    In brief:

    • The first students are now attending Canberra’s newest public school – Aunty Agnes Shea High School.
    • The school is named after late senior Ngunnawal Elder Aunty Agnes Shea.
    • This week, over 50,000 students return to public schools across the ACT.

    The brand-new Aunty Agnes Shea High School in Taylor welcomes its first students this week.

    The ACT’s 92nd public school, it will cater to up to 800 years 7–10 students in the growing suburbs of north Gungahlin.

    The new school’s students are among over 50,000 returning to public schools across Canberra.

    Named for a great Canberran

    The new school’s name honours late senior Ngunnawal Elder Aunty Agnes Shea.

    The school’s logo and uniform design derive from the artwork ‘Journeys’ about Aunty Agnes Shea.

    Artist Selina Walker is Aunty Agnes Shea’s granddaughter. She gifted ‘Journeys’ to the school.

    The logo was co-designed with Aunty Agnes Shea’s family. The school’s first cohort of students and their families also contributed to how ‘Journeys’ is shown on the school uniform.

    Contemporary facilities

    The school features state-of-the-art learning spaces. It is also fully electric in its operations. The buildings use sustainable materials and a large solar panel array.

    Students can also enjoy:

    • a double gym with basketball, netball, futsal, volleyball and badminton markings
    • a covered hard court suitable for basketball and netball
    • kickabout spaces for ball sports
    • external fitness equipment.

    Spaces in the school are available for community use.

    Aunty Agnes Shea OAM

    Aunty Agnes Josephine Shea OAM dedicated most of her life to bettering the world for future generations of Aboriginal Australians.

    She worked tirelessly in many different roles for the varying range of communities that call Ngunnawal Country home.

    Aunty Agnes Shea’s achievements and dedication have been recognised over the years.

    In 2001 she was awarded the Centenary Medal. In 2004, she received the Medal of the Order of Australia.

    In 2010 she was awarded an ACT Senior Citizen of the Year award. She also gained a place on the ACT Honour Walk that same year.

    Find more on the Aunty Agnes Shea High School website.

    The brand-new school offers state-of-the-art facilities.

    Read more like this:

    Get ACT news and events delivered straight to your inbox, sign up to our email newsletter:


    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NEA Response to Administration’s Proposed “Skinny Budget”

    Source: US National Education Union

     

    WASHINGTON — Earlier today, the Trump Administration released its proposed “skinny budget,” which includes deep and harmful cuts to education funding — slashing $12 billion from the Department of Education. In response, National Education Association President Becky Pringle issued the following statement:  

    “For too long, parents, educators and students have pleaded with elected leaders to fulfill their promise to every student and provide the resources that give them every opportunity to thrive. And for too long, our leaders have failed us — this is yet another example.  

    “As we approach Teacher Appreciation Week, instead of praising teachers for all they do, this budget is an insult to educators, students and parents. Rather than investing in opportunity and equity, this proposal advances a harmful agenda that eliminates essential programs millions of Americans rely on every day.  

    “We demand that our elected leaders stand up for what truly matters — protecting critical public services for students and rejecting massive giveaways to billionaires like Elon Musk. Our students deserve the investment, and the American people deserve leaders who prioritize their well-being over the wealth of a few.”  

    Follow us on Bluesky at https://bsky.app/profile/neapresident.bsky.social  & https://bsky.app/profile/neatoday.bsky.social 

    -###-  

    The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing more than 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, students preparing to become teachers, healthcare workers, and public employees. Learn more at www.nea.org 

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Carbajal Announces 2025 Women of the Year Award Winners

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Salud Carbajal (CA-24)

    Today, U.S. Representative Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) announced the five winners of the 2025 Congressional Women of the Year award from the Central Coast.

    The five winners of this year’s award are: Alison Wales from Lompoc, JoAnne Meade Young from Santa Barbara, Lisa Kawamura from Arroyo Grande, Julie Rodewald from Los Osos, and Cherie Eulau from Ventura.

    “Each year, I am inspired by the extraordinary women who are shaping the future of the Central Coast,” said Rep. Carbajal. “The 2025 Women of the Year winners represent the very best of our region—leaders, educators, advocates, and public servants who have dedicated themselves to uplifting others and driving meaningful change. From San Luis Obispo to Ventura, their stories are powerful reminders of the strength and spirit that define our district. I am proud to recognize their achievements in the Congressional Record and to celebrate their invaluable contributions.”

    The Congressional Women of the Year Award honors exceptional women across the 24th Congressional District who have made a positive impact on their communities. Winners span a variety of backgrounds and professions and represent the thousands of women working tirelessly to improve the quality of life on the Central Coast. 

    Carbajal will recognize the winners by permanently entering the accomplishments of each woman into the official Congressional Record, preserving their stories and their impact on the community. An award ceremony will be held at a later date where each honoree will also receive a special congressional pin.

    Below are the biographies for this year’s honorees:

    Alison Wales, Lompoc

    Alison Wales is a dedicated advocate for survivors of sexual violence. She was instrumental in establishing a 24/7 crisis hotline at the North County Rape Crisis Center and creating a prevention education program that works with local schools to reduce incidents of sexual violence. She also launched the She Raised Her Hand initiative to address the unique challenges faced by female veterans, many of whom struggle with PTSD, military sexual trauma, and reintegration into civilian life. She is a true champion for the North County community.

    JoAnne Meade Young, Santa Barbara

    JoAnne Meade Young attended a segregated two-room school through the third grade. Learning did not come easily to her, which motivated her to ensure that low-income children, children of color, and children with learning disabilities and ADHD were recognized and placed on a path to educational success. When she moved to Santa Barbara in 1990 to become principal of Mountain View School in Goleta, she became the school’s first Black principal. Over the next 17 years, she served as principal of Brandon School, El Rancho School, Ellwood School, and as Director of the Goleta State Preschool. Even in retirement, she has continued to serve the community. She ran the Santa Barbara Spelling Bee for five years, and helped found the Santa Barbara Martin Luther King Jr. Committee, and served as a board member of the Family Services Agency and as the District 2 Commissioner for Women. Her lifelong commitment to equity and education has left a lasting impact on generations of students and the broader Santa Barbara community

    Lisa Kawamura, Arroyo Grande

    Lisa Kawamura is currently President of the Executive Board of the California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo Chapter of the California Faculty Association union. She fights to ensure that her colleagues receive the pay and treatment they deserve. As a woman of color, she is particularly supportive of other women-of-color faculty and encourages them to speak up for themselves, no matter who else is in the room. She is also a 27-year lecturer in the Department of Communication at Cal Poly SLO, where she has taught hundreds of students public speaking. Lisa has been a featured speaker at the SLO County Women of Color Network’s annual Women of Color Symposium two years in a row. Through her leadership, advocacy, and teaching, Lisa Kawamura continues to empower both colleagues and students, leaving a meaningful mark on the Cal Poly community and beyond.

    Julie Rodewald, Los Osos

    Julie Rodewald’s dedication to democracy and public service has shaped lives in San Luis Obispo for decades. She served for 33 years in the Office of the SLO County Clerk-Recorder, ensuring everyone had the right to vote. Even in retirement, she continues to advocate for voting rights. She serves on the Board of Directors for the SLO County League of Women Voters and launched the Empowering the Voters of Tomorrow, Today initiative, which registered or pre-registered over 3,500 local high school students. She worked with the Latino Voter Engagement Project to help Spanish speakers in the community exercise their right to vote, and even helped create a short film, Forever Voters, to inspire civic engagement. Julie’s dedication to ensuring every citizen exercises their right to vote is truly inspiring.

    Cherie Eulau, Ventura

    Cherie Eulau taught for 27 years in the Ventura Unified School District, shaping generations of young people in the process. Her classes on World History, Government, and Economics inspired many to pursue careers in public service. She went above and beyond, developing interactive lesson plans that helped students truly understand the past and how it shapes the present. She also encouraged her students to get involved in the community, partnering with organizations like the Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE) on issues such as environmental justice and voting rights. Cherie brings joyful optimism and fiery energy to igniting the minds and hearts of local youth, encouraging them to raise their voices and change the world around them.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Statement of U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine on President’s Budget Request

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner
     WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) released the following statement after President Donald Trump released his Fiscal Year 2026 discretionary budget request to Congress:
    “The budget the President released today reflects what we’ve seen over the past 103 days—that the Trump Administration is laser-focused on taking a chainsaw to important government programs that Americans rely on so that they can cut taxes for billionaires. This cruel budget would cut critical funding for education, such as Federal Work Study; substance use disorder prevention; rural development; housing; support for small businesses; research into cancer and other diseases; cybersecurity; foreign assistance; violence prevention, including Jabara-Heyer NO Hate grants; and more. It would also roll back funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and other historic legislation that we were proud to help pass in Congress. As Congress continues negotiating a budget in the coming months, we are committed to pushing back against these massive cuts that will harm Virginians and our economy and make communities less safe.”   

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner, Blackburn Introduce Bill to Lower Costs and Improve Access to Care for Rural Medicare Patients

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) introduced the Rural Patient Monitoring (RPM) Access Act to ensure Medicare patients in rural and underserved communities have access to remote physiologic monitoring services, which lower costs and improve access to care by using technology to collect and transmit patient health data to healthcare providers.
    “Too often, patients are struggling to receive the medical care they need because of how difficult it is to see a doctor in person,” said Sen. Warner. “Remote monitoring services offer a life-saving solution, expanding care options and allowing individuals to regularly receive the medical consultations they need, all while lowering costs and hospital admissions. I’m proud to introduce the Rural Patient Monitoring Access Act to improve health care services for our seniors.”
    “Medicare beneficiaries in rural and underserved areas often face serious barriers to health care, and they deserve better,” said Sen. Blackburn. “The Rural Patient Monitoring Access Act would ensure Tennessee Medicare patients have access to high-quality remote physiologic monitoring services to manage chronic conditions and help patients eliminate unnecessary hospital visits.”
    U.S. Reps. David Kustoff (R-Tenn.), Mark Pocan (D-Wisc.), Troy Balderson (R-Ohio), and Don Davis (D-N.C.) introducing companion legislation in the House.
    Rural Medicare patients face high rates of chronic conditions like heart failure, hypertension, and diabetes. In particular, Medicare patients living in rural areas have limited access to healthcare because of roadblocks like lack of transportation. Remote Physiologic Monitoring (RPM) helps patients manage chronic conditions and eliminates unnecessary hospital visits. A recent study of over 4,000 hypertension patients found that RPM decreased patients’ total monthly cost of care by more than 50%. Current lack of adequate Medicare reimbursement leads to not implementing RPM programs in rural areas, reducing access to cost-saving and patient-centered care.
    Specifically, The Rural Patient Monitoring Access Act would ensure high-quality remote physiological monitoring services are established and maintained for Medicare beneficiaries in rural and underserved geographies; allow rural areas to provide RPM services at the national average rate; and decrease patients’ total monthly cost. Under the RPM Access Act:
    RPM providers must be capable of responding to data anomalies detected by the monitoring service;
    RPM providers must be capable of promptly transmitting captured vitals and treatment management notes to electronic health record of the supervising provider; and
    The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services may require providers of RPM to report data to the Secretary of Health and Human Services in order to facilitate the evaluation of cost savings generated to the Medicare program through the proliferation of remote physiologic monitoring services.
    This legislation is supported by National Rural Health Association, American Association of Nurse Practitioners, HIMSS, American Telemedicine Association, Alliance for Connected Care, Ascension, LifePoint Health, Marshfield Clinic, SSM Health, the University of Virginia Center for Telehealth, and the Bipartisan Policy Center.
    “Technology-enabled care is crucial to ensuring seniors in rural areas are able to safely manage their chronic conditions. Remote physiologic monitoring allows for chronic disease complications to be captured early – saving lives, reducing health care costs, and helping to mitigate common rural barriers such as longer distances to in-person treatment,” said Alan Morgan, CEO of National Rural Health Association.
    “On behalf of HIMSS, we applaud Senators Blackburn and Warner, and Representatives Kustoff, Balderson, Pocan, and Davis for introducing the Rural Patient Monitoring (RPM) Access Act. Remote patient monitoring is a critical digital health tool that helps providers and patients work together to improve patient access and outcomes. We urge Congress to take action to advance the safe and effective use of RPM for millions of Medicare beneficiaries,” said Hal Wolf, President and CEO of HIMSS.
    “Patients in rural and underserved communities deserve the same opportunity to manage their health as those in more resourced areas. At Lifepoint, we’ve seen firsthand how high-quality remote patient monitoring can help bridge long-standing access gaps and drive meaningful clinical improvement, especially for chronic conditions like hypertension and diabetes. This bill is an important step forward in ensuring fair reimbursement for rural providers, empowering them to deliver high-quality, proactive care to the patients who need it most,” said Dr. Chris Frost, Chief Medical Officer and Chief Quality Officer at Lifepoint Health.
    “We are proud to support the Rural Patient Monitoring Access Act, which will help to ensure rural practitioners can provide remote physiologic monitoring services. RPM supports coordinated chronic disease management and acute and chronic disease risk reduction, while improving health outcomes helping patients remain healthy at home,” said Michael Richards, System Vice President at SSM Health.
    “The Alliance for Connected Care applauds Senators Blackburn and Warner for their leadership to ensure rural patients have access to high-quality, innovative patient-centered care. Remote patient monitoring has a huge potential to empower rural seniors with technology to better take accountability for their own health,” said Chris Adamec, Executive Director of The Alliance for Connected Care.
    “This proposed legislation will incentivize healthcare systems in rural areas to establish remote monitoring programs and ensure sustainability of existing programs. We are grateful for Sen. Warner and Sen. Blackburn’s leadership on this issue. Remote monitoring has been shown to improve outcomes and ultimately lower the cost of care,” said Karen Rheuban, MD, Director of the University of Virginia Center for Telehealth.
     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: WEEK 15 WINS: President Trump’s 100th Day Marked by More Success

    Source: The White House

    This week, President Donald J. Trump celebrated his 100th day in office — and set the course for the next 100 days of growth, prosperity, and success for the American people.

    Here is a non-comprehensive list of wins in week 15:

    • The economy added 177,000 new jobs in April, according to the latest jobs report — smashing expectations for another month as the workforce grows and businesses onshore jobs.
    • President Donald J. Trump’s relentless pursuit of manufacturing dominance spurred onshoring and additional U.S. investment.
      • Mercedes-Benz announced it will move production of another vehicle to its Tuscaloosa, Alabama, manufacturing facility.
      • AstraZeneca announced it will shift production of some medicines from Europe to the U.S.
      • Walmart expanded its support for American-made products.
      • IBM announced a $150 billion investment over the next five years in its U.S.-based growth and manufacturing operations.
      • Pratt Industries announced a $5 billion investment that will result in 5,000 new manufacturing jobs across several key industrial states.
      • Kimberly-Clark announced a $2 billion investment in its U.S. manufacturing sites, which will create 900 new jobs.
      • Corning announced it is expanding its Michigan manufacturing facility investment to $1.5 billion.
      • Merck & Co. announced a $1 billion investment to build a new state-of-the-art biologics manufacturing plant in Delaware, which will create at least 500 new jobs — part of the company’s commitment to invest more than $9 billion over the next four years.
        • “Since the advent of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Merck has allocated more than $12 billion to enhance our domestic manufacturing and research capabilities, with additional planned investments of more than $9 billion over the next four years.”
      • Amgen announced a $900 million investment in its Ohio-based manufacturing operation.
        • “Pro-growth policies like the @POTUS @WhiteHouse 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act helped make investments like this possible. Since enactment, Amgen has invested ~$5B in capital expenditures. This amounts to an additional downstream output to the U.S. economy of approximately $12B.”
      • The Bel Group announced a $350 million investment to expand its U.S.-based production, including at its South Dakota, Idaho and Wisconsin facilities — which will create 250 new jobs.
    • President Trump continued to secure our border and rid our communities of illegal immigrant criminals.
      • New York Post: Illegal border crossings remained near historic lows in April after President Trump’s crackdown
      • The Trump Administration directed an operation at an underground nightclub in Colorado “frequented by TdA and MS-13 terrorists” that resulted in 100 illegal immigrant arrests.
      • ICE arrested more than 1,000 illegal immigrants in Florida in just six days as part of Operation Tidal Wave.
      • Uzbekistan agreed to pay for and accept 131 illegal immigrants from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.
    • President Trump continued to pursue peace through strength around the world.
      • President Trump secured a historic agreement with Ukraine that gives the U.S. an economic stake in securing a free, peaceful, and sovereign future for Ukraine and allows for the long-term reconstruction and modernization of the country after Russia’s invasion.
      • President Trump announced secondary sanctions on any country or person who purchases Iranian oil.
      • President Trump secured the release of a wrongfully detained U.S. citizen in Belarus and a U.S. citizen imprisoned in Kuwait — for a total of 47 detained citizens abroad freed since President Trump took office.
      • The Trump Administration brokered a joint pledge for peace between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
      • The Department of the Treasury cracked down on vessels delivering oil derivatives to Houthi terrorists in Yemen.
      • The Department of the Treasury sanctioned six Iranian and Chinese firms linked to procuring missile propellant ingredients for the Iranian regime.
    • The Trump Administration forged ahead on its unprecedented effort to secure American energy dominance.
      • Woodside Energy Group financially approved a $17.5 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) project.
      • The Environmental Protection Agency granted an emergency waiver that allows Americans to buy cheaper, higher-ethanol gasoline through the summer, which will save Americans money.
    • President Trump took a series of executive actions to improve Americans’ lives.
      • President Trump strengthened the ability of state and local law enforcement to pursue criminals and protect innocent Americans.
      • President Trump signed an executive order to protect Americans in so-called “sanctuary” jurisdictions from dangerous criminal illegal immigrants.
      • President Trump established the Religious Liberty Commission to safeguard and promote America’s founding principle of religious freedom.
      • President Trump incentivized American automobile production.
      • President Trump ordered that commercial truck drivers must be properly qualified and proficient in English.
      • President Trump ended the taxpayer subsidization of NPR and PBS.
    • President Trump unveiled his proposed budget, which would save taxpayers $163 billion in wasteful spending, gut the weaponized deep state, and provide historic increases for defense and border security.
    • President Trump launched the FEMA Review Council to help fix the broken disaster response system and return power to the states.
    • President Trump announced Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Michigan will soon be home to the new F-15EW Eagle II fighter jets.
    • President Trump renamed May 8 as “Victory Day for World War II” and November 11 as “Victory Day for World War I” in recognition of America’s role in winning the two wars.
    • The Department of Health and Human services released a comprehensive review of so-called “gender-affirming care,” finding no strong medical or scientific evidence exists to support the treatment’s irreversible effects.
    • The Trump Administration ended the Biden-era lawfare against South Dakota cattle ranchers who were wrongfully persecuted over a minor land dispute.
    • The Department of State designated Haitian gangs Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif as Foreign Terrorist Organizations.
    • The Department of Education launched a civil rights investigation into the New York Department of Education over its threat to withhold funding from the Massapequa School District if it does not eliminate its Native American mascot.
    • The Department of Education announced its finding that the University of Pennsylvania violated Title IX, notifying the institution that they have ten days to resolve the violations or risk a referral to the Department of Justice for enforcement proceedings.
    • The Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services announced investigations into Harvard University and the Harvard Law Review based on reports of race-based discrimination permeating the operations of the journal.
    • The Department of the Interior announced 42 new proposed hunting opportunities across 87,000 acres within the National Wildlife Refuge System and National Fish Hatchery System, which would more than triple the number of opportunities and quintuple the number of stations opened or expanded compared to the previous administration.
    • The Department of Energy announced it will lift a range of unnecessary regulations on certain indoor and outdoor gas products — expanding choice and lowering costs for consumers.
    • The Department of Transportation unveiled a new package of actions to further supercharge the air traffic controller workforce.
    • Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard added counter narcotics to the National Counter Terrorism Center in order to “focus intelligence and vetting resources against these terrorists who traffic deadly narcotics into the country.”
    • The Department of Justice arrested two individuals on charges of operating an international child exploitation enterprise.
    • The Department of Agriculture secured an agreement with Mexico for an immediate transfer of water from international reservoirs to Texas farmers and ranchers.
    • The White House Council on Environmental Quality established the Permitting Innovation Center to cut red tape and accelerate the environmental review process.
    • The National Institutes of Health announced it will publish studies it funds online for free to empower Americans’ own research and promote maximum transparency.
    • PepsiCo announced it will remove artificial ingredients from some popular food offerings by the end of the year following the Trump Administration’s push to end artificial food dyes.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Baird Announces Launch of 2025 Congressional App Challenge

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim Baird (R-IN-04)

    Congressman Jim Baird (IN-04) announced that the 2025 Congressional App Challenge has officially launched.

    “I’m proud to announce that the 2025 Congressional App Challenge is now open,” said Congressman Baird. “As a Ph.D. scientist and a member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, I know the value of STEM education and computer science. I encourage every middle and high school student in our district to participate, and I hope this encourages more students to engage in STEM fields. I wish all of the students participating the best of luck, and I look forward to seeing the impressive apps our students create this year!”

    The deadline for students to register for the Congressional App Challenge and submit their app online is 12:00 PM ET on October 30, 2025.

    Students may use any programming language (C, C++, JavaScript, Python, Ruby, “block code,” etc.) and create an app for any platform (PC, web, tablet, robot, mobile, etc.). The winning apps are eligible to be featured in the Capitol Building and be put on House.gov. Students who create winning apps will also be invited to the #HouseofCode Capitol Hill Reception in Washington, D.C., where winners from across the nation will showcase their projects.

    Eligibility:

    • To be eligible to participate in the Congressional App Challenge, you must be a middle or high school student at the time of app submission.
    • Students may register as individuals or as teams of up to four. No more than four students are allowed to form a team.
    • Students may compete in the district they reside in or the district they attend school in.
    • If competing as a team, at least half of the teammates must be eligible to compete in the district in which they are participating.
    • All competing students must be U.S. residents at the time of submission.There is no citizen requirement for students.
    • If competing as a team, all members must submit their information on the registration form to participate.

    Please click here for the 2025 rules and guidelines for students.

    Please click here for the 2025 resources for teachers.

    To register and for more information, please visit congressionalappchallenge.us. For questions, please contact StudentSupport@CongressionalAppChallenge.us.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: The 50th Anniversary of the Willowbrook Consent Decree

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the Willowbrook Consent Decree. Hosted by Governor Hochul’s Chief Disability Officer, the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities, the College of Staten Island and the Staten Island Developmental Disabilities Council, today’s event consisted of a conversation on promising goals for a future of full community inclusion and acceptance. The event, dubbed “The Evolution of Inclusion 1975 – 2025,” celebrated New York’s rich history as the birthplace of deinstitutionalization and advocacy for people with developmental disabilities.

    “We will never forget the mistakes of the past when children with developmental disabilities were shuttered away from their loved ones because society was unaccepting and uninformed,” Governor Hochul said. “Today, we celebrate the results of positive change, and the proposal included in my Executive Budget is just one example of our commitment to expanding opportunity and support to all New Yorkers.”

    A 1972 class action lawsuit brought by parent activists alleging that their children’s constitutional rights were being violated at the Willowbrook State School was the catalyst for the trailblazing Willowbrook Consent Judgment in 1975. The Willowbrook Consent Decree, one of the first official actions taken by Governor Hugh Carey, committed New York to providing opportunities for community living for people with developmental disabilities and eventually led to the shuttering of the Willowbrook State School in 1987 and 19 additional institutions across New York State in favor of community residences.

    In the 1970s, Jane Kurtin of the Staten Island Advance wrote groundbreaking stories about the deplorable conditions, administrative failures, and horrendous treatment of the people living at Willowbrook in her years long series of reporting. In 1972, Kurtin’s coverage garnered the interest of Geraldo Rivera who was an investigative reporter for WABC-TV at the time. Rivera’s television reporting of the story led to a national outcry over the quality of care and lack of rights for people with developmental disabilities.

    The televised Willowbrook exposé shifted the way American society viewed and interacted with people with developmental disabilities, which brought changes to New York’s system to become more focused on person-centered services and community residential opportunities.

    Before the story became widely known through the press, the parents of the children of Willowbrook took up the long and unwavering fight of demanding more for their loved ones and advocating on their behalf to be included in society. One of those parents was Mrs. Willie Mae Goodman, whose daughter Margaret lived at Willowbrook. Mrs. Goodman was honored at today’s event with the first annual Willie Mae Goodman Award for Family Advocacy, which will annually be awarded to a family advocate every year in honor of Mrs. Goodman’s fierce advocacy for her daughter and all children with a developmental disability.

    An award was also presented today to Bernard Carabello, who famously and courageously let Geraldo Rivera and his news camera into the Willowbrook State School to expose the atrocities taking place. The Bernard Carabello Self-Advocacy Award will annually be awarded henceforth in honor of Bernard’s incredible advocacy and selflessness.

    New York State Chief Disability Officer Kim Hill Ridley said, “When the world’s eyes were opened to the horrifying accounts of abuse and neglect, the residents of Willowbrook and their families used their voices to demand change. That demand 50 years ago made Willowbrook become the birthplace of deinstitutionalization, and the signing of the Willowbrook Consent Decree sparked the national Disability Rights Movement, which forever changed the way that people see and treat people with disabilities. In the 50 years since, we have transformed from a system of institutionalization to a state where people with disabilities live, work, and thrive in their communities.”

    New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities Acting Commissioner Willow Baer said, “The brave advocacy of people with developmental disabilities and their families, people like Bernard Carabello, Mrs. Willie Mae Goodman, Jose Rivera, and countless others, brought about the change that led to the formation of the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities, tasked with ensuring that people get the supports and services they need to live a rich and fulfilling life. Their legacy continues in today’s self-advocates who hold us accountable to always do better, and to recognize and support the contributions that people with developmental disabilities bring to our communities. I am incredibly honored and humbled to be celebrating this historic milestone today with the people who made it possible.”

    State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton said, “Today, we commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Willowbrook Consent Decree with Governor Hochul and OPWDD. This milestone reminds us of the progress we’ve made since the closure of Willowbrook. As a member of the NYS Senate Disabilities Committee, I am committed to carrying this legacy forward by continuing to fight for people with developmental disabilities.”

    Assemblymember Charles Fall said, “We mark 50 years since the Willowbrook decree not just with remembrance—but with purpose. There’s still more to do to uphold the rights and dignity of every person with a developmental disability. I’m proud to honor the resilience of those who transformed tragedy into lasting change.”

    Assemblymember Sam Pirozzolo said, “The legacy of Willowbrook is a solemn reminder of the importance of vigilance, compassion, and justice for our most vulnerable citizens. We must never forget the painful past, but we must also honor the courage of the families, advocates, and survivors who stood up and demanded change. As we commemorate this landmark in disability rights, we reaffirm our commitment to inclusion, dignity, and the full participation of every New Yorker in community life.”

    New York City Councilmember David Carr said, “The 50th Anniversary of the Willowbrook Consent Degree is both a joyous celebration and solemn reminder of our history. This decree was a massive step in the right direction. We have made leaps and bounds since the time of the Consent Decree and the closure of Willowbrook that followed from it, but we still have more work to do. Protecting the rights of those with disabilities and adhering to our duty in caring for our fellow citizens is something that will always be relevant. I hope this anniversary will serve to remind people of this fact and be a catalyst for public awareness of the needs, rights, and humanity of people with disabilities.”

    Richmond County District Attorney Michael E. McMahon said, “Our children are our most precious resource, the heartbeat of our future. It is our duty, whenever and wherever, to safeguard their well-being. The landmark consent decree that we celebrate on this 50th anniversary stands as a testament to our unwavering commitment to justice and protection, ensuring that every child is given the safety and security that they deserve. We thank Governor Hochul for acknowledging this meaningful commemoration and for her extraordinary investment in the Institute for Basic Research Campus which will make certain that the history of Willowbrook, its class members, and the parents and activists who successfully advocated for deinstitutionalization and the rights of people with developmental disabilities are never forgotten.”

    Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella said, “While the Willowbrook State School was a tragic and dark chapter in Staten Island history, it is important to recognize the tireless work of the many regular folks, advocates and elected officials who closed it. And, while there is still work to be done, we have come a long way in our treatment and acceptance of people with disabilities. We join Governor Hochul in commemorating the closure of the Willowbrook State School, because it reminds us of the chief responsibility of government; to protect all good people.”

    Staten Island Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Mike Cusick said, “The Willowbrook Consent Decree was a defining moment in Staten Island and New York’s history, driven by the courage of individuals, families, and advocates who demanded justice for people with developmental disabilities. 50 years later, we’re grateful to Governor Hochul for continuing to honor that legacy with meaningful investment in inclusive communities, ensuring every New Yorker has the opportunity to live with dignity and respect. Here on Staten Island, we will always remember Willowbrook not only for its past, but for the progress it sparked across our state.”

    Governor Hochul’s 2025-2026 Executive Budget Proposal included the creation of the Willowbrook Center for Learning, which would be built as part of a $75 million investment in the Institute for Basic Research Campus so that the history of Willowbrook and deinstitutionalization will be forever shared and acknowledged. The historic investment includes the renovation of “Building 29,” an abandoned building on the former Willowbrook State School grounds, into a Center for Learning to honor the rich history and significance of the closure of Willowbrook.

    In 1950, even prior to the opening of the Willowbrook State School, parents of children with developmental disabilities who wanted more for their children came together and formed The Arc New York, now the largest nonprofit in New York State providing support, services, and advocacy for people with developmental disabilities. The Arc New York, which recently celebrated its 75th Anniversary, today announced the gift of their Willowbrook archives to the College of Staten Island. Built on the location of the former Willowbrook State School, the College of Staten Island has remained a steward of its artifacts dating back to the opening that are part of the college’s Willowbrook Documentation Project.

    The City University of New York Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez said, “CUNY is proud to mark the 50th anniversary of a pivotal moment in the history of disability rights and an occasion to celebrate how far we have come as a society in recognizing the dignity and advancing the rights of all people with disabilities, but also to take stock of how much more we still must do. This is a fight for equity and inclusivity that goes to the core of our mission and which our students, faculty and staff – at the College of Staten Island and across our University – champion every day.”

    The Arc New York CEO Erik Geizer said, “The Arc New York Historic Archives collection contains 75 years of original materials documenting the history of the disability rights movement, the power of advocacy, and the transformation from institutionalization to integrated community support. Giving them a permanent home at the College of Staten Island will expand public access to this important history and inform future progress for people with disabilities.”

    The College of Staten Island President Timothy G. Lynch said, “The Willowbrook Consent Decree marked a turning point in the history of disability rights, not just in New York but across the country. As we commemorate its 50th anniversary, we honor the courage of self-advocates, families, and journalists who exposed injustice and demanded better. Their actions reshaped our understanding of inclusion, dignity, and community. At the College of Staten Island, we are proud to stand on the very ground where this history unfolded, and we are deeply honored to preserve it. We are excited to accept and expand our campus archives with new materials related to the Willowbrook State School, ensuring that this vital history continues to be studied, remembered, and appreciated by future generations.”

    College of Staten Island President Tim Lynch said, “The Willowbrook Consent Decree marked a turning point in the history of disability rights, not just in New York but across the country. As we commemorate its 50th anniversary, we honor the courage of self-advocates, families, and journalists who exposed injustice and demanded better. Their actions reshaped our understanding of inclusion, dignity, and community. At the College of Staten Island, we are proud to stand on the very ground where this history unfolded, and we are deeply honored to preserve it. We are excited to accept and expand our campus archives with new materials related to the Willowbrook State School, ensuring that this vital history continues to be studied, remembered, and appreciated by future generations.”

    About Willowbrook
    Willowbrook State School was the largest of its kind in the nation for people with developmental disabilities. During the 1950s through the 1970s, Willowbrook became synonymous with scandal and controversy for deplorable conditions and a now infamous 20-year medical study wherein children were intentionally infected with hepatitis in order to identify possible cures. Willowbrook’s overcrowding, medical trials, and increasingly questionable practices led to Senator Robert F. Kennedy referring to the school as “a snake pit.” In 1975, a settlement, which became known as the Willowbrook injunction, was reached mandating reform. In 1993, the state signed a permanent injunction solidifying services, rights and protections for former Willowbrook class members. This led to a national movement to end the institutionalization of people with developmental disabilities. Today, the permanent injunction is overseen by the Willowbrook Consumer Advisory Board, a seven-member board that provides necessary and appropriate representation and advocacy services on an individual basis for all Willowbrook class members as long as any class member lives.

    Over the years, Willowbrook has been remembered and memorialized through the Willowbrook Mile, a path of historical markers located on the College of Staten Island campus. The documentary “Willowbrook: The Path Forward” is a New York Emmy-winning look at the importance of lessons learned, positive change that resulted, and the legacy of Willowbrook.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Stein Visits Burlington Elementary School, Emphasizes Need for $4 Billion School Bond to Strengthen North Carolina Public Schools

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Governor Stein Visits Burlington Elementary School, Emphasizes Need for $4 Billion School Bond to Strengthen North Carolina Public Schools

    Governor Stein Visits Burlington Elementary School, Emphasizes Need for $4 Billion School Bond to Strengthen North Carolina Public Schools
    lsaito

    Raleigh, NC

    Today Governor Josh Stein and Superintendent of Public Instruction Mo Green visited Hillcrest Elementary School in Burlington to highlight his budget proposal to strengthen North Carolina’s public schools, including a $4 billion school bond to address aging school buildings and facilities across the state. 

    “Too many schools across our state are overcrowded or need repairs, which often hinders students’ ability to learn and thrive,” said Governor Josh Stein.  “We must ensure that our schools are well-built and our teachers are well-paid so that our students can receive the high-quality education that they deserve.”

    “This school bond is a practical step toward the goal of investing fully in public education and ensuring that our students have safe, secure, and supportive learning environments,” said North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Maurice “Mo” Green. “Our state is growing, and our public schools need the facilities and resources to be able to meet that demand and to successfully prepare each student for their next phase in life.”

    Governor Stein’s 2025-2027 budget proposal includes a $4 billion school bond to modernize old and outdated buildings. The Office of State Budget & Management estimates that North Carolina’s public schools need $13 billion to address school facility needs to keep up with the state’s growing population.

    Governor Stein’s budget also works to attract new teachers by raising starting teacher pay to the highest in the Southeast and retain veteran teachers by raising their pay, providing advanced teacher career pathways, and investing in professional development. It also invests in student safety and well-being by hiring more school nurses and social workers, providing free breakfast in public schools, upgrading school security, and removing the distraction of cell phones from classrooms. 

    May 2, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper Introduces Legislation to Expand Family Leave Protections

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Colorado John Hickenlooper
    Legislation would expand protections under the Family Medical Leave Act to include a wider range of caregivers
    WASHINGTON – Today, on the 32nd anniversary of the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper joined nine of his Senate colleagues to introduce the Caring for All Families Act. The bill modernizes FMLA by updating the definition of family to include a broader range of caregiving relationships covered by FMLA’s protections and leave for small needs like doctor’s appointments.
    “We need to expand family medical leave to better support caregivers across the country,” said Hickenlooper. “Workers taking care of family members like siblings or grandchildren deserve the same protections as someone caring for a spouse.”  
    There are roughly 50 million unpaid family caregivers in the United States, 61 percent of which maintain a job outside of their caregiving duties. Notably, most family caregivers provide at least 20 hours of care each week, with many caregivers providing support to children as well as to aging family members. Women compose approximately 60 percent of family caregivers, and often face significant challenges including loss of retirement savings and lower potential lifetime earnings. 
    Specifically, the Caring for All Families Act would:
    Update FMLA’s definition of family to include a domestic partner, parent-in-law, aunt, uncle, sibling, adult child, grandparent, grandchild, son- or daughter-in-law, and other significant relationships
    Guarantee that parents and other family caregivers have the ability to take time off to attend a medical appointment or school function, such as a parent-teacher conference, without risk of losing their jobs.
    The Caring for All Families Act is endorsed by the following organizations:
    National Partnership for Women & Families, National Organization for Women, MomsRising, National Employment Law Project, National Women’s Law Center, Equal Rights Advocates, Center for WorkLife Law, Women Employed, Legal Aid at Work, A Better Balance, NJ Citizen Action, NJ Time to Care Coalition, The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), NC Families Care Coalition, Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition, Missouri Jobs with Justice, Paid Leave for All, Family Values @ Work Action, Caring Across Generations, Shriver Center on Poverty Law, United For Respect, Family Values @ Work, Mother Forward, MANA, A National Latina Organization, Family Forward Oregon, National Council of Jewish Women, Abortion Action Missouri, Center for American Progress, The Arc of the United States, National Education Association, Main Street Alliance, National Association of Social Workers, National Alliance for Caregiving, Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), Reproductive Freedom for All, AFT, American Association of University Women (AAUW), Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy, and Institute for Women’s Policy Research.
    Full text of the bill is available HERE. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: The White House Office of Management and Budget Releases the President’s Fiscal Year 2026 Skinny Budget

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    Washington, D.C.–Today, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) sent President Trump’s topline discretionary Budget request for fiscal year 2026 to the U.S. Congress.
    The Budget, which reduces non-defense discretionary by $163 billion or 23 percent from the 2025 enacted level, guts a weaponized deep state while providing historic increases for defense and border security.  The Budget also provides support for air and rail safety as well as key infrastructure and our Nation’s veterans and law enforcement.
    This is the lowest non-defense spending level since 2017.  Savings come from eliminating radical diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and critical race theory programs, Green New Scam funding, large swaths of the Federal Government weaponized against the American people, and moving programs that are better suited for States and localities to provide. 
    Defense spending would increase by 13 percent, and appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security would increase by nearly 65 percent, to ensure that our military and other agencies repelling the invasion of our border have the resources they need to complete the mission.  These increases will be made possible through the passage of President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, which will be enacted with a simple majority in the Congress, and not be held hostage by Democrats for wasteful spending increases that have been the status quo in Washington.
    “For decades, the biggest complaint about the Federal Budget was wasteful spending and bloated bureaucracy.  But over the last four years, Government spending aggressively turned against the American people and trillions of our dollars were used to fund cultural Marxism, radical Green New Scams, and even our own invasion.  No agency was spared in the Left’s taxpayer-funded cultural revolution.  At this critical moment, we need a historic Budget—one that ends the funding of our decline, puts Americans first, and delivers unprecedented support to our military and homeland security.  The President’s Budget does all of that,” said Russ Vought, Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
    Highlights of the President’s key priorities include the following:
    End Weaponization and Reduce Violent Crime.  The Budget ends the previous Administration’s weaponization of the Government by eliminating programs like the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s disinformation offices that targeted and censored Americans, eliminating so-called Fair Housing programs that waged war on America’s suburbs, ending the Environmental Protection Agency’s unfair harassment of citizens over “environmental justice” directives, and halting the ATF’s criminalizing of gun-owning Americans and instead, focusing on stopping illegal firearms traffickers and violent gang members.
    The Budget prioritizes Department of Justice (DOJ) key functions—restoring law and order to America’s communities, fighting crime, and supporting America’s men and women in Blue.  To that end, the Budget proposes to eliminate more than 40 DOJ grant programs that fund things like a “feminist, culturally specific nonprofit” to address “structural racism and toxic masculinities” and training Fa’afafine advocates—an organization of biological men that describes themselves as a “third-gender” in Samoa.  The Budget also reflects the President’s priority of reducing violent crime in American cities and protecting national security by getting Federal Bureau of Investigation agents into the field. 
    Defund the Harmful Woke, Marxist Agenda.  Every single agency across the Federal Government was engaged in funding and advancing DEI and other radical, harmful ideologies such as:  $315 million for grant programs to push “intersectionality,” “racial equity,” and LGBTQIA+ programming for preschoolers; housing grants that funded activities such as an “Equity Audit” to reverse “land use patterns that have roots in systemically racist policies in L.A. County; and “addressing White Supremacy in the STEM profession.”  The Budget ends all of that.
    Secure the Border.  The Budget request empowers the Department of Homeland Security to implement the President’s mass removal campaign and secure the border.  This funding is in addition to historic investments in border security the Administration proposes to provide through mandatory funding, as part of the congressional Budget reconciliation process.  The discretionary request includes an additional $500 million for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to expedite the removal of illegal aliens through the support of 50,000 detention beds, $766 million to procure cutting-edge border security technology funding, and funding to maintain 22,000 Border Patrol Agents and hire additional Customs and Border Protection officers for a total of 26,383 officers.  The Budget also cuts off the flow of taxpayer funds that have been abused to facilitate migrant caravan invasions.  Departments whose task it was to prevent those invasions allocated billions in funding to non-governmental organizations running “border aid stations” and legal services to criminal aliens—all of which will be eliminated under this new budget.
    Realign Foreign Aid.  The Budget ensures that foreign aid spending is efficient and consistent with U.S. foreign policy under the America First agenda.  The Budget reorganizes the U.S. Agency for International Development into the Department of State to meet current needs and eliminates non-essential staff that were hired based on DEI and preferencing practices.  The Budget also expands the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) to support U.S. national security and American interests—generating returns to the taxpayer and reducing reliance on foreign aid.  This includes $3 billion for a new revolving fund to allow DFC to recycle any realized returns from its initial investments.
    Rebuild our Nation’s Military.  The Budget request for the Department of Defense builds on the President’s promise to achieve peace through strength by providing the resources to rebuild our military, re-establish deterrence, and revive the warrior ethos of our Armed Forces.  In combination with $119 billion in mandatory funding, the Budget increases Defense spending by 13 percent, and prioritizes investments to strengthen the safety, security, and sovereignty of the homeland, deter Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific, and revitalize our defense industrial base. 
    Achieve American Energy Dominance.  The Budget supports the President’s commitment to unleash America’s affordable and reliable energy and natural resources.  The Budget cancels over $15 billion in Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Green New Scam funds provided to the Department of Energy for unreliable renewable energy, removing carbon dioxide from the air, and other costly technologies that burden ratepayers and consumers.  The Budget reorients Department of Energy funding toward research and development of technologies that could produce an abundance of domestic fossil energy and critical minerals, innovative concepts for nuclear reactors and advanced nuclear fuels, and technologies that promote firm baseload power.  The Budget also cancels an additional $5.7 billion in IIJA funding provided to the Department of Transportation for failed electric vehicle charger grant programs.
    Make America Healthy Again (MAHA).  The Budget request builds on the President’s MAHA Commission.  The Budget provides resources to the Department of Health and Human Services that would allow the Secretary to tackle issues related to nutrition, physical activity, healthy lifestyles, over-reliance on medication and treatments, the effects of new technological habits, environmental impacts, and food and drug quality and safety.  The Budget also supports the creation of MAHA food boxes, that would be filled with commodities sourced from domestic farmers and given directly to American households.  The Budget includes resources to ensure food safety nationwide, including support for increased production and demand for services.
    Support Our Veterans.  The Budget provides increased funding for healthcare services tailored to U.S. veterans’ needs, both at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers and in the community.  Combined with $50 billion in mandatory funding from the Toxic Exposures Fund, the Budget ensures that the Nation’s veterans are provided with the world-class healthcare that they deserve.  In addition, veterans who qualify for access to care with local community providers would be empowered to make the choice to see them, rather than having to drive in some cases hours to access the nearest VA facility.  The Budget includes $1.1 billion in new VA funding to make a down payment on President Trump’s commitment to eradicate veterans’ homelessness, the largest funding increase in the last decade.
    Preserve Social Security.  The Budget supports the President’s promise to not touch Social Security benefits.  It also includes sufficient resources for the Social Security Administration (SSA) to improve customer service by expanding and improving online services, and reducing customer wait times in field offices and on the phone.  The Budget also includes investments in program integrity, to reduce fraud and abuse in Social Security programs, and in investments in artificial intelligence to increase employee productivity and automate routine workloads.  These efforts would help ensure that SSA delivers timely and accurate Social Security services to the public.
    Streamline K-12 Education Funding and Promote Parental Choice.  The Budget continues the process of shutting down the Department of Education.  The Budget maintains full funding for Title I, that provides Federal financial assistance to school districts for children from low-income families, and special education funding under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).  To limit the Federal role in education, and provide States with more flexibility, the Budget creates a new K-12 Simplified Funding Program that consolidates 18 competitive and formula grant programs into a new formula grant, and a Special Education Simplified Funding Program that consolidates seven IDEA programs into a single grant.  The Budget also invests $500 million, a $60 million increase, to expand the number of high-quality charter schools, that have a proven track record of improving students’ academic achievement and giving parents more choice in the education of their children.
    Make America Skilled Again (MASA).  The Budget proposes to give States and localities the flexibility to spend Federal workforce dollars to best support their workers and economies, instead of funneling taxpayer dollars to progressive non-profits finding work for illegal immigrants or focusing on DEI.  Under this proposal, States would now have more control and flexibility to coordinate with employers and would have to spend at least 10 percent of their MASA grant on apprenticeship, a proven model that trains workers while they earn a paycheck and offers a valuable alternative to college. 
    Support Space Flight.  The Budget refocuses the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) funding on beating China back to the Moon and on putting the first human on Mars.  By allocating over $7 billion for lunar exploration and introducing $1 billion in new investments for Mars-focused programs, it ensures that America’s human space exploration efforts remain unparalleled, innovative, and efficient.  To achieve these objectives, the Budget would streamline the NASA workforce, IT services, NASA Center operations, facility maintenance, and construction and environmental compliance activities.  The Budget also eliminates “green aviation” and other climate scam programs as well as failing space propulsion projects.
    Maintain Support for Tribal Nations.  The Budget preserves Federal funding for the Indian Health Service and supports core programs at the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education, sustaining the Federal Government’s support for core programs that benefit tribal communities.  The Budget also weeds out radical woke grants and programs and streamlines other programs for tribal communities that were ineffective.
    Address Drug Abuse.  The Administration is committed to combatting the scourge of deadly drugs that have ravaged American communities.  The Budget prioritizes Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) resources on traffickers of fentanyl and other dangerous drugs that are driving America’s overdose crisis.  This includes redirecting DEA’s foreign spending to regions with criminal organizations that traffic significant quantities of deadly drugs into the United States—Mexico, Central America, South America, and China. 
    Support Artificial Intelligence and Quantum Research.  The Budget amply funds research in artificial intelligence and quantum information science at key agencies to ensure the United States remains on the cutting edge of these critical technologies’ development and responsible use.
    Improve Wildland Firefighting.  Federal wildfire responsibilities currently are split across five agencies in two departments.  The Budget would consolidate firefighting responsibilities into a new Federal Wildland Fire Service at the Department of the Interior that would coordinate with non-Federal partners to combat the wildfire crisis.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Previously unheard Nazi tapes released ahead of WW2 80th anniversary Digitized recordings of conversations with protagonists of 20th century conflict – including undercover conversations with high-ranking Nazis who fled to semi-hiding in South America – will be released ahead of the 80th anniversary of Germany’s surrender in World War Two.

    Source: University of Aberdeen

    Digitized recordings of conversations with protagonists of 20th century conflict – including undercover conversations with high-ranking Nazis who fled to semi-hiding in South America – will be released ahead of the 80th anniversary of Germany’s surrender in World War Two.
    They form part of the Gerd Heidemann collection held at the Hoover Institution Library & Archives at Stanford University, which  is described by University of Aberdeen historian and Hoover Visiting Fellow Professor Thomas Weber as ‘the most important private collection on the Third Reich and the inner lives of extremists acquired by a university archive’.
    Weber and his Hoover colleague Kathatina Friedla facilitated the acquisition of the archive by Hoover, which includes an abundance of conversations with Nazis spanning the 1960s to the 1990s. Friedla is the Taube Family Curator for European Collections at Hoover’s Library & Archives.
    Among those Heidemann interviewed – included in the material made available – is Bruno Streckenbach the head of personnel of the SS agency in charge of the Holocaust, who spoke about what Heydrich and Himmler had told him regarding Hitler’s role in the Holocaust.
    The release of the recordings and transcriptions in both German and English, will allow researchers to explore, understand, and learn from voices of the past.
    The conversations were conducted by German investigative journalist Gerd Heidemann – a contentious figure who accumulated an expansive trove of materials that document major world events, war, and dictatorship in the twentieth century. His reputation was sullied in 1983 by the acquisition of forged Hitler diaries but new research led by Weber and Friedla has shown that he played a crucial role hunting down Nazis, which included work over two decades for the Israeli intelligence services.
    The Hoover Institution, together with Weber, went to great lengths to authenticate Heidemann’s Collection, which included an authentication of Streckenbach’s voice recording by the former head of the voice recognition unit of the German Federal Police.
    Weber and Friedla say the release of the Heidemann tapes is an important landmark in understanding the inner lives of key Nazi perpetrators.
    “It is due to the tenacity and diligence of Gerd Heidemann as an investigative journalist that we now have at our hands a collection of more than seven thousand folders of papers and a hundred thousand photos in addition to the audio tapes pertaining to 20th century conflict,” they said.
    Professor Weber met Heidemann, who died in 2024 aged 93, more than 20 times over a ten-year period.
    “We long knew about the World Press Photo Award that Heidemann won in the 1960s for his coverage of colonial warfare. Through an interview I recorded with Gerd Heidemann two weeks prior to his death, we now also know much better about the trust Mossad’s Nazi war crime unit put in him in the 1970s in hunting down Nazi war criminals in hiding,” Professor Weber said.
    “Camouflaging as an aide to former SS-General Karl Wolff, Himmler’s liaison officer to Hitler, Heidemann managed to get in touch with the community of Nazis who had fled to South America, including Klaus Barbie, the ‘butcher of Lyon’, responsible for the deaths of many Jews and resistance fighters.
    Professor Weber added that the newly released tapes show that while being recorded by Heidemann, Barbie and other Nazi war criminals boasted perfectly openly of what they had done, assuming they were speaking among friends.
    “The recordings pull away the rug under the lies that Nazi perpetrators told in postwar court rooms. Back in Germany, Heidemann managed to get Bruno Streckenbach to reveal how SS perpetrators and their lawyers had lied in court rooms in a coordinated fashion about their role in the ‘Holocaust by Bullets’, which resulted in the death of 1.5 million Ukrainian Jews,” Weber said.
     “This is an enormous archive and we’ve only really begun to scratch the surface of the secrets like this that it may hold.
    Historians, alongside all those interested in the meaning and role of history, can now begin to sift through the ‘new trove of material’ that will allow them to study in greater detail than ever before the first-person perspective of the radicalization and crimes against humanity by extremists, something Professor Weber says is absolutely vital at a time at which the world once again is starting to give in to the lure of extreme political behaviour.
    “In line with new breakthroughs in the study of extremism, we need triangulate the inner lives of extremists against other evidence relating to their behaviour”, he said.
    “As Dutch scholar of extremism Rik Peels has said, ‘extremists are also people who act from convictions, for reasons, who have intentions and goals, who think and reflect and make difficult choices. To truly understand and explain radicalization, we must not only look at all kinds of factors that transcend them, but also at what they themselves bring to the table when they explain their beliefs and actions.
    “I have spent more than a decade working to ensure the Heidemann archive could be preserved, and with the wonderful work of Katharina and the Hoover Institution Library & Archives, it will now be opened up to researchers and the general public across the globe.”
    For more information about this collection, visit the Hoover Institution Library & Archives digital collections website and YouTube channel.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Collins Releases Statement Celebrating Full Restoration of Sea Grant Funding

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Susan Collins
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins today released the following statement after the University of Maine announced it has received full funding for Maine Sea Grant.
    After a February announcement from the Department of Commerce that the program was being defunded, Senator Collins contacted Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and the Trump administration to explain all that is at stake for Maine’s coastal communities with the loss of Sea Grant funding. At the urging of Senator Collins, Secretary Lutnick directed NOAA to renegotiate the terms and conditions of the work to be performed by Maine Sea Grant to ensure that it focuses on advancing Maine’s coastal economies, working waterfronts, and sustainable fisheries, and, this week, they received their funding.
    “I am thrilled that Maine Sea Grant has received its full funding so that the important work they do to conduct research, support a robust pipeline of skilled labor, and enrich our coastal economies can continue unimpeded,” said Senator Collins. “Maine Sea Grant provides valuable services for fishermen, lobstermen, hospitality workers, and so many others that rely on our coastal economy.”
    “The groundswell of support for Maine Sea Grant and the stories that have surfaced about its incredible impact on our state’s working waterfronts have been extraordinary and effective. We are deeply appreciative of Senator Collins’ leadership and relentless advocacy on behalf of Maine Sea Grant and the hard-working Mainers it has long served,” said UMaine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy. “We look forward to continuing our long-standing partnership with the U.S. Department of Commerce and our state’s coastal communities to promote resilient local jobs and opportunities and a globally competitive marine economy through research-informed innovation.” 
    Maine Sea Grant is a direct investment in Maine’s coastal communities, driving economic growth, creating jobs, and supporting fisheries and the seafood industry, including local businesses like Ready Seafood:
    “Maine Sea Grant has been supporting Ready Seafood since we started as a small lobster company on Hobson’s Pier in Portland in 2004, and helped propel our business to become the largest lobster processing company in the world,” said Curt Brown, lobsterman and marine biologist for Ready Seafood. “Senator Collins’ tireless leadership has once again delivered a huge victory for Maine’s coastal communities. From Kittery to Cutler, Maine’s coastal economy is stronger today, thanks to her efforts!” 
    Consistent with the original four-year agreement, the award made by the Commerce Department this week is for $1,499,374, which will be matched by $809,905 from non-federal sources, including industry and State research and development funding, over the next year. The Department will provide an additional $3,023,749 to Maine Sea Grant through Jan. 31, 2028, to be matched by $1,646,169. 
    Facts about Maine Sea Grant:
    Maine Sea Grant contributed to $23.5 million in documented economic benefits in 2023 alone. For every $1 of funding, there’s a $15 return.
    Sea Grant has more than 700 established partnerships with businesses, researchers, community organizations, and local and county governments.
    In 2023, Sea Grant created or supported 332 businesses and 565 jobs.
    Sea Grant supports American seafood competitiveness by enhancing the sustainability and profitability of Maine’s $600 million lobster industry and growing aquaculture sector, helping maintain American leadership in global seafood markets.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Wyden Demands Investigation into Trump Administration’s Potential Criminal Activity Against Harvard University

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)
    May 02, 2025
    Senator joins Schumer, Warren and Markey to sound the alarm about abuses that could also lead to targeting other schools, hospitals, churches and more
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today demanded an investigation into the Trump Administration for potential criminal activity related to its threat to weaponize the IRS to revoke the non-profit status of Harvard University. 
    Wyden, along with Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Ed Markey (D-MA), called on Acting Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Heather Hill to conduct an immediate investigation into whether Trump is targeting Harvard’s non-profit status  for blatantly political purposes after Trump posted: “Perhaps Harvard should lose its Tax-Exempt Status and be Taxed as a Political Entity if it keeps pushing political, ideological, and terrorist inspired/supporting ‘Sickness?’”
    In a letter to Hill, the senators wrote, “It is both illegal and unconstitutional for the IRS to take direction from the President to target schools, hospitals, churches, or any other tax-exempt entities as retribution for using their free speech rights.
    “It is further unconscionable that the IRS would become a weapon of the Trump Administration to extort its perceived enemies, but the actions of the President and his operatives have now made this fear a reality,” they wrote. “We request that you review whether the President or his allies have taken any step to direct or pressure the IRS to take politically-motivated actions regarding the tax-exempt status of the President’s political targets.”
    The lawmakers noted that losing tax exempt status can devastate a non-profit, underscoring the importance of an objective review of an organization’s actions. Only after a careful review, and an opportunity to appeal, can the IRS revoke tax exempt status, not at the arbitrary and erratic whims of one person.  
    “Churches and synagogues, non-profit hospitals and clinics, charter and private schools, and any others that land on the President’s target list will be forced to relinquish their free speech rights in order to remain in existence, or otherwise face this organizational death sentence,” cautioned the senators. 
    Full text of the letter is here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cortez Masto, Blackburn Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen After School Programs, Reduce Crime Among At-Risk Youth

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) reintroduced the bipartisan Advancing Frequent and Tailored Education to Rebuild Safe Communities and Help Orchestrate Opportunities and Learning (AFTER SCHOOL) Act. This bill would create and support after school programs focused on reducing violent crime. 
    “Providing young Nevadans in at-risk neighborhoods with after school activities not only enriches their lives, but also reduces crime,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “Unfortunately, many communities across the Silver State don’t have the resources they need to fund these programs. This bipartisan legislation fills that gap.”
    A recent study found a 28 to 35 percent reduction of total arrests and a 45 to 50 percent reduction in violent crime by youth participating in specific after school programs, as well as a 21 percent reduction in recidivism. The AFTER SCHOOL Act would establish a grant program through the Department of Justice to help schools and non-profits establish, maintain, and strengthen these after school programs that are so effective. School districts and non-profits in counties with a juvenile offense rate higher than 10 percent would be eligible to receive funds through the non-competitive grant. 
    You can find the full bill text here.
    Senator Cortez Masto has delivered critical support to students and schools across Nevada. She helped secure nearly $12 million in funding for the Communities in Schools (CIS) program, which works with local partner organizations to provide eligible students and their families with essential services, including mental health care and access to high-quality afterschool and leadership programs. She has also secured $950,000 to help Clark County School District better support students recovering from substance abuse and mental health struggles. Cortez Masto’s provision to increase the number of mental health professionals in schools was included in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which was signed into law. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Durbin Statement On President Trump’s Budget Proposal

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
    May 02, 2025
    The proposal continues President Trump’s petulant, destructive efforts to slash critical public health funding and foreign aid assistance
    CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today released the following statement on President Trump’s abysmal budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2026 that cuts funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) by nearly half:
    “It’s no surprise that President Trump proposed a federal budget that reflects his true priority – funding tax breaks for billionaires by betraying hard-working Americans and gutting the basic programs that keep us healthy and safe.  He is eviscerating funding for school districts that serve low-income students, rental and utility bill assistance, and child care programs, while decimating medical research that cancer and Alzheimer’s patients rely on.  What about this ‘makes America great again?’
    “But Congress ultimately holds the power of the purse.  I will fight tooth and nail to restore lifesaving funding for our federal research agencies like NIH and advocate for the foreign aid our allies need.  I hope that my Republican colleagues will find the courage to stand up for their constituents and fund these critical programs, rather than bow to President Trump and his band of billionaires.”
    President Trump’s proposed budget:
    Entirely eliminates the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) which helps low-income households pay critical energy bills.
    Delivers an $18 billion cut to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) — including by eliminating some institutes altogether – severely hampering research and development that lead to breakthroughs in cancer, Alzheimer’s, HIV/AIDS, cardiovascular disease, and countless other conditions.
    Slashes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) budget by over $3.5 billion, while entirely eliminating critical programs preventing youth smoking, suicide, childhood lead poisoning, and cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.
    Guts the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) by $1.7 billion, worsening access to medical, dental, and behavioral health care for rural communities, pregnant women, and children.
    Cuts the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration’s (SAMHSA) budget by over $1 billion, imperiling patient access to critical treatments in the midst of an opioid epidemic, and slashing funding for youth mental health services.
    Cuts the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) by $674 million, undermining the key Agency charged with ensuring access to health insurance coverage, including Medicare and Medicaid benefits.
    Delivers the first-ever $1 trillion Pentagon topline—funneling billions into wasteful nuclear weapons modernization and a so-called “Golden Dome” missile shield that represents a dangerous escalation in nuclear brinkmanship.
    Reduces the Internal Revenue Service budget by $2.5 billion below FY2025 levels. This would be a 20 percent cut to the IRS budget, which has been frozen at $12.3 billion since FY2023.
    Cuts $4.5 billion from Title 1 and K-12 funding by reducing Department of Education staff that handle Title 1 funds and consolidates 18 competitive and formula grant programs into a $2 billion formula grant, giving States more discretion with Title 1 funds.
    $27 billion in cuts to the State Rental Assistance Block Grant, which provides for Tenant-Based Rental Assistance, Public Housing, Project-Based Rental Assistance, Housing for the Elderly, and Housing for Persons with Disabilities.
    Cuts $3.3 billion from the Community Development Block Grant, which provides funds for local governments to pursue affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization services.
    $770 million cut to the Community Services Block Grant, which provide for basic needs support and poverty alleviation in local communities facing economic need.
    Guts U.S. diplomacy and global engagement with an 83 percent cut to the State Department and International Affairs budget. This includes a drastic reduction in foreign aid, slashing over $20 billion from programs that support global health, humanitarian relief, and democracy promotion.
    Cuts $15 billion in IIJA clean energy grants.
    Cuts $1.5 billion from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which is tasked with monitoring, predicting, and forecasting the weather and climate.
    Nearly $1 billion in cuts to Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) programs that support tribal operations.
    Cuts $3.5 billion in basic assistance to refugees like housing, food, clothing, access to basic services; cuts another $2.6 billion in humane services to migrants that provide shelter, access to community services, and education—including to migrant farmworkers’ children.
    Eliminates the EPA’s Environmental Justice Program.
    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Kelly announces winners of 2025 Congressional Art Competition during ceremony in Sharon

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA)

    SHARON, PA — During an awards ceremony today in Sharon, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) announced the winners of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition for Pennsylvania’s 16th Congressional District. This year’s winner is Jeffrey Deniker from Mercer Area High School. The ceremony was held at Hope Center for Arts & Technology (HOPECAT) in Sharon.

    “Our office received so many wonderful submissions from students throughout the 16th Congressional District this year. I want to congratulate this year’s winners for their outstanding achievements. I also want to thank the teachers and parents who helped to make this year’s competition possible. We have so many talented students here in Western Pennsylvania,” Rep. Kelly said.

    The winners of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition are:

    • 1st place: Jeffrey Deniker, Mercer Area High School
    • 2nd place: Makenzi Emick, Franklin Area High School
    • 3rd place: Anna Logue, Hickory High School
    • Honorable Mention: Damir Trawick, Hickory High School
       

    BACKGROUND

    The Congressional Art Competition is an annual bipartisan tradition where high school students from across the nation compete to display their artwork in the United States Capitol. The artwork for the winning student from each Congressional district will be displayed in the Cannon House Office Building Tunnel at the U.S. Capitol complex for 11 months.

    The Congressional Art Competition is an annual contest sponsored by the Congressional Institute to encourage and foster arts and culture among high school students. Each year, House Members may honor one high school student from their districts by selecting a piece of artwork for inclusion in an exhibit at the U.S. Capitol. Millions of visitors to the U.S. Capitol view this exhibit each year.

    Learn more about the Congressional Art Competition here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: First Partner Siebel Newsom celebrates Move Your Body, Calm Your Mind Day in Southern California and the Bay Area

    Source: US State of California 2

    May 1, 2025

    LOS ANGELES — California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom today joined students, mental health professionals, and athletes at two schools in Pasadena and the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula’s East Palo Alto Clubhouse to celebrate Move Your Body, Calm Your Mind Day. The events were hosted by the Governor’s Advisory Council on Physical Fitness and Mental Well-Being, which the First Partner co-chairs alongside NFL Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, and provided families with interactive ways to explore the connection between movement, mindfulness, and overall health.

    Concurrent Move Your Body, Calm Your Mind Day events were hosted by community organizations in Sacramento County, Stanislaus County, Los Angeles County, Orange County, and Fresno County.

    “Our mental health is as essential to our overall well-being as our physical health, and the two are deeply connected. Move Your Body, Calm Your Mind Day is a reminder to all Californians that even the simplest of daily movement and mindfulness practices will make a meaningful difference in one’s long- term health, guiding kids towards establishing healthy habits at the earliest of ages.”

    First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom

    Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Blanco: “We are grateful for the support for the well-being of our students, which is especially important as they recover from the Eaton Fire. When students feel healthy, supported, and valued, they can learn and succeed.” 

    Jennifer Hall Lee, PUSD Board of Education President: “We’ve created caring, inclusive spaces where students can feel safe again and heal after the Eaton Fire. Supporting the whole child is how we can help them move forward with hope.”

    Jenny Obiaya, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula: “At Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula, our wraparound services for youth include many opportunities for free sports and physical fitness activities, as well as free mental health services. That’s why we are so proud to host this important event as part of Move Your Body, Calm Your Mind Day. Our students had so much fun celebrating alongside and learning from leaders like First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom and Brandi Chastain, an iconic World Cup and Olympic soccer star.” 

    The First Partner kicked off the day at Eliot Arts Magnet Academy, which suffered significant damage in the Eaton Fire and is co-locating at McKinley School in Pasadena. More than 600 students from both schools gathered in the auditorium for a fun-filled morning of yoga, meditation, dancing, and drumboxing. 

    Move Your Body, Calm Your Mind Day continued in East Palo Alto where the First Partner teamed up with Olympic and World Cup Champion Brandi Chastain at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula. More than 250 kids Zumba danced and played pickleball and soccer, and participated in mindfulness activities such as crafts, cooking, and yoga.

    Move Your Body, Calm Your Mind was launched in 2023 by the Governor’s Advisory Council on Physical Fitness and Mental Well-Being, the California Department of Health Care Services, and the California Department of Public Health. Learn more at www.moveyourbodycalmyourmind.org.

    Photos of the Pasadena event available here. Additional photos available upon request. 

    Recent news

    May 2, 2025

    News What you need to know: As part of the California Jobs First initiative, the state is awarding $30.5 million in tax credits to seven companies committed to creating new jobs and investing over $2.1 billion across key industries like clean energy, advanced…

    May 1, 2025

    News What you need to know: For the second year in a row, California’s Department of Finance released data showing the Golden State’s population grew. In 2024, the state added more than 100,000 residents. SACRAMENTO — Today, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that…

    May 1, 2025

    News What you need to know: House Republicans used an illegal tactic to attempt to overrule California’s clean cars and trucks program that has decreased smog and protected Californians’ health. SACRAMENTO — Governor Gavin Newsom issued the following statement today…

    May 1, 2025

    LOS ANGELES — California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom today joined students, mental health professionals, and athletes at two schools in Pasadena and the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula’s East Palo Alto Clubhouse to celebrate Move Your Body, Calm Your Mind Day. The events were hosted by the Governor’s Advisory Council on Physical Fitness and Mental Well-Being, which the First Partner co-chairs alongside NFL Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, and provided families with interactive ways to explore the connection between movement, mindfulness, and overall health.

    Concurrent Move Your Body, Calm Your Mind Day events were hosted by community organizations in Sacramento County, Stanislaus County, Los Angeles County, Orange County, and Fresno County.

    “Our mental health is as essential to our overall well-being as our physical health, and the two are deeply connected. Move Your Body, Calm Your Mind Day is a reminder to all Californians that even the simplest of daily movement and mindfulness practices will make a meaningful difference in one’s long- term health, guiding kids towards establishing healthy habits at the earliest of ages.”

    First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom

    LOS ANGELES — California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom today joined students, mental health professionals, and athletes at two schools in Pasadena and the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula’s East Palo Alto Clubhouse to celebrate Move Your Body, Calm Your Mind Day. The events were hosted by the Governor’s Advisory Council on Physical Fitness and Mental Well-Being, which the First Partner co-chairs alongside NFL Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, and provided families with interactive ways to explore the connection between movement, mindfulness, and overall health.

    Concurrent Move Your Body, Calm Your Mind Day events were hosted by community organizations in Sacramento County, Stanislaus County, Los Angeles County, Orange County, and Fresno County.

    newsom-news-template
    IMG_3682-min
    contact-governor-landing
    workers-FxAJ5fkakAAtVI3
    priorities-and-progress-image
    economy-F-isBKpbsAAxdab
    gun-violence-San Diego Guns Package 2.18.22_2

    What they’re saying:

    • Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, original author of the Mental Health Services Act: “Twenty years ago, I never could have dreamed that we would have the strong leadership we have today, committing billions and making courageous policy changes that question the conventional wisdom on mental health. Now, with the passage of Proposition 1. California is delivering on decades old promises to help people living with brain-based illnesses, to live better lives, to live independently and to live with dignity in our communities. This is a historic moment and the hard work is ahead of us.“
    • Senator Susan Eggman (D-Stockton), author of Senate Bill 326: “Today marks a day of hope for thousands of Californians who are struggling with mental illness – many of whom are living unhoused. I am tremendously grateful to my fellow Californian’s for passing this important measure.  And I am very appreciative of this Governor’s leadership to transform our behavioral health care system!”
    • Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks), author of Assembly Bill 531: “This started as an audacious proposal to address the root cause of homelessness and today, Californians can be proud to know that they did the right thing by passing Proposition 1. Now, it’s time for all of us to get to work, and make sure these reforms are implemented and that we see results.”

    Bigger picture: Transforming the Mental Health Services Act into the Behavioral Health Services Act and building more community mental health treatment sites and supportive housing is the last main pillar of Governor Newsom’s Mental Health Movement – pulling together significant recent reforms like 988 crisis line, CalHOPE, CARE Court, conservatorship reform, CalAIM behavioral health expansion (including mobile crisis care and telehealth), Medi-Cal expansion to all low-income Californians, Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (including expanding services in schools and on-line), Older Adult Behavioral Health Initiative, Veterans Mental Health Initiative, Behavioral Health Community Infrastructure Program, Behavioral Health Bridge Housing, Health Care Workforce for All and more.

    More details on next step here

    Recent news

    May 2, 2025

    News What you need to know: As part of the California Jobs First initiative, the state is awarding $30.5 million in tax credits to seven companies committed to creating new jobs and investing over $2.1 billion across key industries like clean energy, advanced…

    May 1, 2025

    News What you need to know: For the second year in a row, California’s Department of Finance released data showing the Golden State’s population grew. In 2024, the state added more than 100,000 residents. SACRAMENTO — Today, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that…

    May 1, 2025

    News What you need to know: House Republicans used an illegal tactic to attempt to overrule California’s clean cars and trucks program that has decreased smog and protected Californians’ health. SACRAMENTO — Governor Gavin Newsom issued the following statement today…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: What is the stupidest thing a recent president has said? It may depend on what your definition of ‘is’ is

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Chris Lamb, Professor of Journalism, Indiana University

    Lots of presidents have said things they regret. Or most of them have. Carol Yepes/Getty Images

    President Donald Trump was asked during a press conference on April 30, 2025, about the possible impact of his tariff policies and trade war with China.

    Trump answered that American children should prepare to make sacrifices at Christmas.

    “Maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30 dolls, you know,” he said, “and maybe the two dolls will cost a couple of bucks more than they would normally.”

    The New York Times reported that Trump appeared to be telling kids they would have to manage with fewer toys this year for the sake of his economic agenda.

    Jane Mayer, a reporter with The New Yorker, called it “Trump’s Marie Antoinette moment.”

    This was not the first − or last − time Trump said something that left many Americans with mouths open and heads shaking.

    Hours after his Marie Antoinette moment, Trump, whose first 100 days back in office have been characterized as chaotic and damaging to democracy, was asked during a phone interview at a town-hall broadcast on NewsNation what the biggest mistake he’d made thus far in his second presidency.

    “I don’t really believe I’ve made any mistakes,” Trump replied.

    The audience, representing a cross section of Americans, burst out laughing.

    Trump’s gaffes aren’t just part of his presidency; gaffes are part of the storied tradition of the American presidency. Some of those comments have clung to presidents and even affected history.

    Here are examples from each president over the past 50 years or so of statements that at least some of them were embarrassed by or came to regret. Each was made when the president was serving in the White House. The quotes are organized chronologically.

    Donald Trump auditions for Grinch-who-stole-Christmas role.

    Richard Nixon is a law-abiding guy

    On Nov. 17, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, in the midst of the Watergate scandal that would end his presidency, defended himself against charges of corruption.

    “People have got to know whether or not their president is a crook,” Nixon said. “Well, I’m not a crook. I’ve earned everything I’ve got.”

    Instead of quelling the scandal, as Nixon hoped, his words produced the opposite reaction. He resigned from the presidency nine months later in August 1974.

    Gerald Ford forgets the Cold War

    Gerald Ford, Nixon’s vice president who became president after Nixon’s resignation, subsequently ran for election in 1976.

    During one of his televised debates against Democratic nominee Jimmy Carter, Ford inexplicably claimed the Soviet Union did not control Eastern Europe.

    “There is no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe,” Ford said, “and there never will be under a Ford administration.”

    To which the moderator, New York Times editor May Frankel, said, “I’m sorry, what?”

    Ford’s remark was so outrageously incorrect that it may have contributed to his defeat in the tight presidential election.

    Gerald Ford says it’s really a Warm, not Cold, War.

    Jimmy Carter gets advice from his teen

    Carter defeated Ford and was elected in 1976. He ran for reelection against Republican nominee Ronald Reagan in 1980. During one of their debates, Carter said he sought the advice of his 13-year-old daughter, Amy, on what was the most important issue facing America.

    “She said she thought it was nuclear weaponry,” Carter said, “and the control of nuclear arms.”

    Carter tried to show that arms control was a subject that had great resonance to even 13-year-olds. Instead, it left viewers puzzled why he had inserted his daughter into the debate. A wire service story at the time summarized the response by saying that reporters covering the debate winced and others groaned.

    Jimmy Carter has a smart 13-year-old daughter.

    Ronald Reagan attacks Russia

    Reagan, a former television and movie actor who defeated Carter in the 1980 presidential election, was known as “the Great Communicator” for his eloquence.

    A well-known anti-Communist, Reagan was not always careful about what he said.

    Before a speech on Aug. 11, 1984, Reagan joked during a sound check, “I’ve signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes.”

    The joke on the open mic, which was not broadcast live but leaked later, resulted in a Soviet red alert − and temporarily moved the U.S. and Soviet Union toward war.

    George H.W. Bush eats word salad

    Reagan’s successor, his vice president, George H.W. Bush, by comparison was no great communicator. His words came out of his mouth and appeared to go in separate ways.

    “I have opinions of my own, strong opinions,” Bush said, “but I don’t always agree with them.”

    Bill Clinton is or isn’t, maybe

    Democrat Bill Clinton defeated George H.W. Bush in the 1992 presidential election.

    Clinton’s presidency was dogged with accusations of unethical behavior and extramarital affairs. Clinton, in testimony before a grand jury investigating his affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky, was asked whether he was lying when he told aides that “there’s nothing going on” between him and Lewinsky.

    “It depends on what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is,” Clinton responded. “If the − if he − if ‘is’ means is and never has been, that is not − that is one thing.”

    Slate magazine said that this response may have been the “defining moment” of his presidency and, in doing so, captured his contribution to semantics. As Time magazine pointed out,
    “Until then, America hadn’t been sure there was more than one definition of ‘is.’”

    George W. Bush’s shame

    George W. Bush, the son of George H.W. Bush, succeeded Clinton in the White House. Americans learned that Bush had more in common with his father than just the same last name.

    “There’s an old saying in Tennessee − I know it’s in Texas,” Bush said, “probably in Tennessee, that says, fool me once, shame on − shame on you. Fool me − you can’t get fooled again.”

    Barack Obama strikes out

    Barack Obama, like Reagan, was known for his sense of humor. And like Reagan, Obama learned that not everything was a joking matter.

    While appearing on “The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno in 2009, Obama said he had improved his bowling by practicing at the White House bowling alley. He told Leno he had bowled a pedestrian score of 129, provoking a sarcastic response from Leno.

    Obama then made the following joke: “It’s like the Special Olympics or something.”

    Obama quickly apologized to the Special Olympics, the athletic competition for people with intellectual disabilities.

    Obama made a bad joke about the Special Olympics during an interview with Jay Leno; he quickly apologized for it.
    Mandel Ngan / AFP/Getty Images

    Joe Biden’s bad day

    Trump was first elected president in 2016 but was defeated by Joe Biden in the 2020 election. Trump and Biden faced each other again in 2024.

    During a television debate on June 27, 2024, CNN anchor Jake Tapper asked Biden why voters should trust him to solve the immigration crisis. Biden said he changed a law that allowed Trump and his administration to separate immigrant families and put children in cages.

    Biden’s train of thought then jumped the tracks.

    “And I’m going to continue to move until we get the total ban on the − the total initiative relative to what we’re going to do with more Border Patrol and more asylum officers,” Biden said.

    “I really don’t know what he said at the end of that sentence,” Trump said, “and I don’t think he did, either.”

    The same could be said for much of what Biden said during the debate.

    Biden withdrew from the presidential race three weeks after his poor debate performance.

    Chris Lamb does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. What is the stupidest thing a recent president has said? It may depend on what your definition of ‘is’ is – https://theconversation.com/what-is-the-stupidest-thing-a-recent-president-has-said-it-may-depend-on-what-your-definition-of-is-is-255755

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Coons, Tillis, colleagues introduce bipartisan, bicameral legislation to restore American innovation

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons
    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Judiciary Committee’s Intellectual Property Subcommittee, and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, reintroduced the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act (PERA). This bipartisan, bicameral legislation will restore patent eligibility to important inventions across many fields while also resolving legitimate concerns over the patenting of mere ideas, the mere discovery of what already exists in nature, and social and cultural content that everyone agrees is beyond the scope of the patent system. It also affirms the basic principle that the patent system is central to promoting technology-based innovation.
    Representatives Kevin Kiley (R-Calif.) and Scott Peters (D-Calif.) introduced a companion bill in the U.S. House of Representatives.
    “When American innovators know their ideas are eligible for patent protection, they take the risks that push us into the future – whether that’s the next medical test or the latest AI technology,” said Senator Coons. “PERA restores clarity to the law on what can be patented and what cannot – guidance that federal courts have been requesting for years and that the Supreme Court has refused to provide. Congress must step up to provide America’s inventors with the stable legal foundation they need to produce the cutting-edge technologies that power our economy.”
    “Clear, reliable, and predictable patent rights are imperative to enable investments in the broad array of innovative technologies that are critical to the economic and global competitiveness of the United States, and to ensuring the national security of our great country,” said Senator Tillis. “Unfortunately, a series of Supreme Court decisions have rendered patent eligibility law unclear, unreliable, and unpredictable, resulting in U.S. inventors being unable to obtain patents in areas where our economic peers offer patent protection. This is particularly concerning in the economically critical areas of biotechnology and artificial intelligence. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation maintains the existing statutory categories of eligible subject matter, which have worked well for over two centuries, while addressing inappropriate judicially created eligibility limitations by creating clear rules for what is eligible. We cannot allow foreign adversaries like China to overtake us in key areas of technology innovation due to the current state of patent eligibility law. I look forward to continuing to work with all stakeholders on this important matter. Passing patent eligibility reform is one of my top legislative priorities.”
    “American innovators have been at a disadvantage in recent years because of the U.S. patent system,” said Representative Kevin Kiley. “Convoluted Supreme Court rulings and tests on subject matter eligibility have made it increasingly difficult for inventors to receive patents, leading to foreign companies overtaking our own. That’s why I’m proud to introduce the bi-partisan Patent Eligibility Restoration Act, which will dramatically reverse this trend, and unleash a tide of economic growth and job creation here at home.”
    “For more than two centuries, a U.S. patent has guaranteed inventions will be protected from theft, helping the U.S. become the innovation capital of the world. San Diego, in particular, is the proud home of a thriving life sciences and technology ecosystem that has benefited from these protections,” said Representative Peters. “Over the last 15 years, however, several Supreme Court decisions have created confusion about what exactly is eligible for a patent. Innovators, consumers, and even the judges who adjudicate patent law have called on Congress to provide clarity on what can be patented. I look forward to working with Congressman Kiley, Senator Coons, and Senator Tillis to advance our Patent Eligibility Restoration Act and protect American innovation.” 
    Due to a series of Supreme Court decisions, patent eligibility law in the United States has become confused, constricted, and unclear in recent years. This has resulted in a wide range of well-documented negative impacts – inconsistent case decisions, uncertainty in innovation and investment communities, and unpredictable business outcomes.
    In 2021, all 12 then-sitting judges of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit lamented the state of the law. Witnesses and stakeholders from a wide array of industries, fields, interest groups, and academia have testified and submitted comments confirming the uncertainty and detailing the detrimental effects of patent eligibility confusion in the United States. There is now widespread bipartisan agreement in Congress and across all recent administrations that reforms are necessary to restore the United States to a position of global strength and leadership in key areas of technology and innovation, such as medical diagnostics, biotechnology, personalized medicine, artificial intelligence, and 5G technology.
    The Patent Eligibility Restoration Act achieves this critical goal by restoring patent eligibility to important inventions across many fields, while also resolving legitimate concerns over patenting of mere ideas, the mere discovery of what already exists in nature, and social and cultural content that everyone agrees is beyond the scope of the patent system, which is a system aimed at promoting technology-based innovation. As a general approach, the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act maintains the existing statutory categories of eligible subject matter, which have worked well for over two centuries, but eliminates the overly malleable set of current judicial exceptions – replacing them with five specific and clear statutory exclusions. By eliminating and replacing the current judicial exceptions, the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act provides predictable patent eligibility for important computer-implemented technological developments and medical advances, creating a solid bedrock for America’s innovation future.
    The following organizations support the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act: Innovation Alliance, C4IP, AUTM, AIPLA, IEEE-USA, USIJ, MDMA, BIO, NCLifeSci, Adeia, Nokia, Sisvel, Conservatives for Property Rights, Eagle Forum Education & Legal Defense Fund, U.S. Business & Industry Council, Center for a Free Economy, Center for Individual Freedom, American Policy Center, Less Government, 60 Plus Association, American Association of Senior Citizens, Frontiers of Freedom, Consumer Action for a Strong Economy, Center for American Principles, Prosperity for Us Foundation, Market Institute, Inventors Defense Alliance, Lauder Partners, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Heritage Action, 21C, Netlist, and FICPI.
    “Congress has not made substantive changes to what subject matter is patentable in the United States since the Patent Act of 1793, making it difficult for courts, inventors, and the public to understand how 21st-century technologies fit within an 18th Century patent statute,” said Andrei Iancu, board co-chair of C4IP and former Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and USPTO Director from 2018 to 2021. “I commend Congress for advancing PERA in order to finally modernize our patent laws and promote U.S. global leadership in biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and other modern technologies.” 
    “PERA provides the clarity needed to unlock the full potential of cutting-edge technologies and solidify U.S. leadership in scientific and technological breakthroughs,” said David Kappos, board co-chair of C4IP and former Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and USPTO Director from 2009 to 2013. “We cannot allow legal uncertainty to stall the next wave of American innovation.”
    “Patent Eligibility is an important issue for cancer patients – both for life-saving, early diagnosis and for promising new treatments.  PERA will provide the certainty needed to enable innovative breakthroughs to reach patients. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute applauds Congress for introducing and advancing this important bill – the patients are waiting,” said the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
    “Passing PERA is essential if the US is to catch up to Europe and Asia, especially China,” said Judge Paul Michel (retired). “They make eligible for patenting many classes of inventions held ineligible here. The very uncertainty of the zone of eligibility is itself an obstacle to companies getting the investments they need to compete both domestically and globally. Only Congress can fix this chaotic mess because the courts are trapped in their own harmful precedents.” 
    “In my former court, which hears patent cases on appeal, concurring and dissenting opinions in patent eligibly cases have proliferated,” said Judge Kathleen O’Malley (retired). “Veteran jurists have described the state of affairs as ‘incoherent,’ ‘unclear,’ ‘fraught,’ and ‘inconsistent.’ The Patent Eligibility Restoration Act would return clarity to patent eligibly law and encourage continued innovation in key emerging technologies – technologies that are central to the United States remaining the world’s innovation leader.”
    “NCLifeSci thanks Senator Tillis for reintroducing the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act of 2025, which restores the confidence in our nation’s patent laws by bringing much needed clarity to Section 101 of the Patent Act. Confidence that the life sciences industry needs to robustly invest in the future of medicine. For too long, fields like diagnostics, precision medicine, cell and gene therapy, RNA medicine, and digital health have been threatened by unclear and uncertain patent-eligibility standards that put America’s innovators at a disadvantage, and that discourage local investment. Through this legislation, our members – which include leading innovators who operate cutting-edge gene therapy manufacturing facilities here in North Carolina and research potential treatments and cures for Alzheimer’s and cancer —will be able to continue to take the bold risks and make the high levels of investment necessary to take fields like these to their next level, with the confidence that our patent laws will continue to hold up through future waves of technological progress,” said the NC Life Sciences Organization.
    “The Innovation Alliance applauds Senators Tillis and Coons and Representatives Kiley and Peters for sponsoring the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act, which will provide much needed predictability and clarity to the hopelessly confused law of patent eligibility.  The Supreme Court has provided no workable framework to guide patent owners or the courts, and it has repeatedly refused to clarify the law, rejecting requests by the Federal Circuit and others to do so time and again. Investment dollars are flowing out of the United States as a result, jeopardizing the future of America’s innovation economy. It is past time for Congress to act,” said the Innovation Alliance.  
    “This bipartisan and much-needed bill would strike a decade of judicial tinkering that has needlessly turned the question of patent eligibility into a confusing mess and harmed the U.S. versus our economic competitors. While the U.S. has spent a decade holding back innovations in areas such as fintech, diagnostic solutions and medical devices trying to figure out whether they are ‘abstract’ or not, our competitors are moving forward and protecting these inventions. PERA would be particularly beneficial to American startups and innovators by providing the clarity needed to attract investment for new ventures in essential areas such as medical devices, diagnostics, manufacturing and a whole new range of advancements powered by software,” said the Alliance of U.S. Startups & Inventors for Jobs.
    “AUTM – the association representing technology transfer professionals – thanks Senators Tillis and Coons and others for their leadership in introducing PERA. This legislation is crucially needed to address the ambiguities that the courts have created about what is, and what is not, patent eligible. At a time when the U.S. is competing for innovation leadership, its patent system needs to clearly delineate this process so that it can move forward on numerous discoveries that otherwise would wither on the vine,” said AUTM.
    “The reintroduction of the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act (PERA) marks a pivotal move toward restoring clarity and consistency in U.S. patent law. By providing clear statutory guidelines, PERA offers inventors, entrepreneurs, and research institutions the certainty needed to innovate confidently. We commend Senator Tillis and Senator Coons for their leadership on this critical issue and remain committed to collaborating with Congress to support a patent system that fosters transparency and predictability,” said the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA).
    “The Coalition for 21st Century Patent Reform applauds Congress for reintroducing PERA. This legislation represents a significant step forward in clarifying patent eligibility while maintaining necessary standards on what is ultimately patentable. 21C applauds these efforts as they will make sure that the United States remains the most attractive place in the world to invest, invent, and grow,” said the Coalition for 21st Century Patent Reform (21C).
    The text of the bill is available here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Help shape the future of SEND provision on the Isle of Wight 2 May 2025 Help shape the future of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision on the Isle of Wight

    Source: Aisle of Wight

    A consultation on Isle of Wight Council proposals to increase Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision for Island children launches today (Friday).

    We are asking communities to share their views on proposals, the key aim of the proposed programme is to provide specialist education placement for additional children from September 2025 and beyond.

    The proposals continue to support the Island’s education strategy — an overarching masterplan to transform the school system from one that has consistently underperformed compared to national trends, to one that is recognised nationally for the quality of its education.

    The consultation runs from today (Friday 2 May) until Monday 9 June 2025 and all Island residents’ input is welcomed.

    Why is this happening?

    The proposed additional specialist SEND provision will help manage an increase in the number of children with SEND, including those requiring an education health and care plan (EHCP) for their needs to be met, and ensure we are able to meet the needs of children requiring specialist provision.

    The consultation 

    The consultation seeks to expand specialist SEND provision at the following places:

    • Expansion of places at Medina House School from 138 places to 168, with 30 places being provided at a satellite specialist SEND provision located at the site of the former Chillerton & Rookley Primary School, Chillerton IOW.
    • Expansion of the resourced specialist SEND provision at Hunnyhill Primary School from 8 places to 12 places for children for Social Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH).
    • Expansion of the resourced specialist SEND provision at Brading CE Primary School from 8 places to 12 places for children with Autism Spectrum (AS) and/or Complex Learning.
    • Expansion of the resourced specialist SEND provision at The Bay CE School (Secondary site) from 15 places to 20 places for children with Autism Spectrum (AS).
    • Expansion of Lionheart School from 60 places to 120 places, with 60 places for children with complex high anxiety mental health (Non- EHCP/Section 19 children) being provided at the Cowes Primary School site, Cowes (subject to closure on the 31/8/2025).
    • Expansion of St Georges School from 208 places to 228 places, with 40 places being provided at the satellite site located in East Cowes.
    • Creation of a new 12 place primary resourced specialist SEND provision at Brighstone CE Primary School for children with Autism Spectrum (AS) and/or Speech Language Communication Need (SLCN).

    How can I comment?

    It is important that we hear your views on the proposals.

    You can share your views by contacting us;

    • Via Email: strategic.planning@iow.gov.uk
    • Or via Post: Jade Kennett, Service manager – Strategic Development, County Hall, Newport IOW PO30 1UD.
    • For further information please visit SpecialEducational Needs and Disabilities

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Experts of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination Commend Kyrgyzstan on Eradicating Statelessness, Ask about Measures to Prevent Hate Speech and Bride Kidnapping

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination today concluded its consideration of the combined eleventh and twelfth periodic reports of Kyrgyzstan, with Committee Experts commending the State on resolving all known cases of statelessness, and asking about measures to prevent hate speech and the practice of bride kidnapping.

    Mazalo Tebie, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, and other Committee Experts commended Kyrgyzstan on having resolved all known cases of statelessness in 2019.  They asked how the State party was bringing its legislation on statelessness in line with international standards.

    Guan Jian, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, said conflicts between the country’s various ethnic groups had occurred in recent years.  The State party needed to consider early detection and preventative measures to prevent hate speech.  Could the delegation provide data on crimes motivated by racist hate speech occurring online and in the media?

    Ms. Tebie also said there was a phenomenon in Kyrgyzstan called “ala kachuu” (bride kidnapping), in which young women or girls from marginalised and vulnerable ethnic groups were abducted by men and forced into marriage.  How did the State ensure the effective implementation of laws prohibiting the practice?

    In opening remarks, Marat Tagaev, Deputy Minister of Culture, Information and Youth Policy of Kyrgyzstan and head of the delegation, said Kyrgyzstan fully adhered to its international obligations under the Convention.  The President had approved the national development strategy until 2040, one of the main priorities of which was to ensure interethnic harmony and strengthen the unity of the people.

    In addition, Mr. Tagaev said Kyrgyzstan continued systematic and continuous work on the issues of refugees, internally displaced persons and stateless persons.  In 2019, it became the first country in the world to resolve all known cases of statelessness.  It had also introduced a universal system that ensured 100 per cent registration of births.

    On measures to address hate speech, the delegation said a new bill on the media had been prepared in 2022 which prevented the spread of disinformation online.  In 2025, only 25 complaints related to online hate speech had been received by the State; the State had moved to block websites in response in seven cases.

    The delegation said bridal theft was a form of violence against women.  Persons who abducted women for the purpose of marriage were punished with up to seven years imprisonment, or up to 20 years for the abduction of minors. In 2022, courts found 42 individuals guilty of these crimes.  In all schools, a special subject was taught that addressed kidnapping and abductions, explaining that these actions were crimes.

    In concluding remarks, Michal Balcerzak, Committee Chair, said the dialogue had been very constructive, addressing many issues.  The information provided by the delegation would allow the Committee to develop targeted concluding observations.

    Mr. Guan, in concluding remarks, thanked the State party for its contributions to the dialogue, which had helped to make it a success.

    Mr. Tagaev, in his concluding remarks, said that the Committee’s comments and questions would help the State party to strengthen measures to promote equality and prevent discrimination. Kyrgyzstan would continue to take active steps to prevent racial discrimination and implement the Convention, working in collaboration with civil society.

    The delegation of Kyrgyzstan consisted of representatives of the Supreme Court; General Prosecutor’s Office; Ministry of Internal Affairs; Ministry of Health; Ministry of Labour, Social Security, and Migration; Ministry of Education and Science; Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ministry of Economy and Commerce; Cabinet of Ministers; State Commission on Religious Affairs; Administration of the President; and the Permanent Mission of Kyrgyzstan to the United Nations Office at Geneva.

    The Committee will issue its concluding observations on the report of Kyrgyzstan after the conclusion of its one hundred and fifteenth session on 9 May.  The programme of work and other documents related to the session can be found here.  Summaries of the public meetings of the Committee can be found here, while webcasts of the public meetings can be found here.

    The Committee will next meet in public on Friday, 9 May at 4 p.m. to close its one hundred and fifteenth session.

    Report

    The Committee has before it the combined eleventh and twelfth periodic reports of Kyrgyzstan (CERD/C/KGZ/11-12).

    Presentation of Report

    MARAT TAGAEV, Deputy Minister of Culture, Information and Youth Policy of Kyrgyzstan and head of the delegation, said that since Kyrgyzstan gained independence, the human rights and freedoms of its citizens, regardless of their racial and ethnic affiliation, had remained absolute and unchanged in the State.  Kyrgyzstan fully adhered to its international obligations under the Convention.  It was a multi-ethnic State with representatives of more than 100 different ethnic groups, including Uzbeks, Russians, Dungans, Uyghurs, Tajiks and other ethnic groups.  The Constitution prohibited discrimination based on race, language, ethnicity, religion, origin, as well as other circumstances.  The commission of a crime based on racial, ethnic, national, religious or interregional enmity was an aggravating circumstance.

    Set up in 2013, the Coordinating Council on Human Rights aimed to improve the mechanisms for ensuring the protection of human and civil rights and freedoms, and the implementation of international obligations in the field of human rights.  The Council included the heads of key State bodies whose activities were related to the protection of human rights, and it was headed by the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan.

    Kyrgyzstan continued systematic and continuous work on the issues of refugees, internally displaced persons and stateless persons.  In 2019, it became the first country in the world to resolve all known cases of statelessness.  It had also introduced a universal system that ensured 100 per cent registration of births.  Draft laws on Kyrgyzstan’s accession to the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons and the 1961 Reduction of Statelessness Convention had also been submitted for public discussion. 

    The courts of the country applied not only the laws of Kyrgyzstan but also international treaties that had entered into force.  The Convention was thus an integral part of the legal system.  The President had approved the national development strategy until 2040, one of the main priorities of which was to ensure interethnic harmony, strengthen the unity of the people, and protect the rights of citizens, regardless of their ethnicity.

    In November 2020, the President of Kyrgyzstan had approved the plan for the promotion of a civil identity Kyrgyz jarany (Kyrgyz citizen) for the period 2021-2026.  The purpose of the plan was to develop a favourable environment for the promotion of the civic identity of Kyrgyz jarany, including through forming of a conscious understanding of the civil identity of Kyrgyz citizens; strengthening the unity of the people of Kyrgyzstan, increasing tolerance and promoting diversity; developing and promoting the State language and preserving multilingualism; promoting equal access to decision making; and increasing confidence in political institutions and public authorities.  Various national and international stakeholders were involved in developing the plan. 

    The People’s Assembly, which included 30 ethnic associations, played an important role in strengthening interethnic harmony, and preserving languages, culture and traditions of ethnic groups living in Kyrgyzstan.  In April 2025, the National Agency for Religious Affairs and Interethnic Relations was established, which implemented State policy in the field of religious relations, strengthening interethnic harmony, providing early warning, and preventing interethnic conflicts.

    Public reception offices for interethnic relations operated in 23 multiethnic districts, carrying out preventive measures, monitoring work in places where multiethnic communities lived, and promoting effective interaction with the civil sector.  In 2024, these offices carried out more than 1,100 early warning and prevention measures regarding interethnic conflicts, and close to 4,000 measures over the past four years.  As a result of this work, the number of interethnic incidents had decreased four-fold.

    Kyrgyzstan had created a legal framework to prevent discrimination in the courts.  The constitutional principle of equality before the law and the courts was reflected in the Criminal Procedure Code and laws on the status and behaviour of judges, as well as on the Supreme Court and local courts.

    The State party supported members of all ethnic groups in Kyrgyzstan to preserve, study and develop their native languages. In 161 local schools, students had the opportunity to study in Uzbek.  In 22 of them, education took place only in Uzbek.  The State strove to implement a balanced language policy that would foster a new trilingual generation of Kyrgyz citizens who spoke the official languages and one foreign language, while ensuring guarantees for the preservation of the native languages of ethnic communities.  Kyrgyzstan had developed a regulatory framework for its multilingual and multicultural education programmes.

    Questions by a Committee Expert

    GUAN JIAN, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, said that the high-level delegation showed the great importance that the State party attached to the dialogue.

    The demographic data that the State party had provided was not sufficiently comprehensive or specific. How did the State party apply the principle of self-identification in data collection on ethnicity, and how would it implement the Committee’s recommendations on data collection as soon as possible?

    Mr. Guan commended the State party’s legislative work.  However, in its previous concluding observations, the Committee expressed concern about the persistent lack of anti-discrimination legislation, calling on the State party to adopt such legislation in line with the Convention, with assistance from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.  Had progress been made in this regard?  How did the Criminal Code of 2019 contribute to combatting racial discrimination?  A draft anti-discrimination law was submitted to Parliament in 2023 but was subsequently removed from its agenda for revision.  Why was this?

    The previous concluding observations also called for compliance with Convention obligations in the judicial field. During the reporting period, law enforcement units initiated 189 criminal cases related to incitement to ethnic, racial, religious or interregional hostility.  Were all these cases brought before the courts?  Did the judicial system have internal guidelines for handling cases involving racial discrimination?  Were there rules and procedures on cooperation between judicial bodies and the Office of the Ombudsperson on such cases?  Were regular training courses on anti-racial discrimination provided for judicial personnel?  Could the delegation provide examples of cases of racial discrimination where the provisions of the Convention had been invoked in, or applied by, domestic courts?

    Mr. Guan expressed appreciation for the State party’s policy efforts related to racial discrimination, including the national action plan on development of the civil identity of Kyrgyz jarany (Kyrgyz citizen) for the period 2021-2026 and the national development strategy for 2018-2040.  What preliminary achievements had been made by these policies, and by the State programme for the security and socioeconomic development of border areas, and what challenges remained?

    The Committee was concerned that the Office of the Ombudsperson was not in compliance with the Paris Principles and that it received a low number of complaints of racial discrimination. What measures had the State party taken to strengthen the mandate of the Office to effectively promote human rights and to independently monitor and evaluate progress in the implementation of the Convention, while ensuring adequate financial and human resources to carry out its mandate?  Had the State adopted a 2017 bill aiming to strengthen the independence of the institution? Why had its head been dismissed in 2023?

    Mr. Guan expressed appreciation for the State party’s endeavours to prohibit and punish racist hate speech and hate crimes, including in the media and over the internet, according to its Constitution, Criminal Code and other laws.  The State party had also reported that there were no recorded cases over the reporting period of racist statements in the media or incitement to hatred by politicians or public figures.  However, conflicts between the country’s various ethnic groups had occurred in recent years, and development gaps and uneven opportunities between different ethnic groups in some regions still existed. 

    The State party needed to consider early detection and preventative measures to prevent hate speech, including awareness raising campaigns, incentives for strengthening self-regulation of media, systematic monitoring of online hate speech, and capacity building for State authorities.  Could the delegation provide data on cases of hate speech and ethnic groups involved in conflict, and rates of completion of trials on such cases?

    The Committee had previously called on the State party to put an end to racial profiling by the police, undertake effective investigations into all allegations of racial profiling, hold those responsible accountable, and provide effective remedies to victims, as well as to develop training programmes for law enforcement officers on identifying, investigating and prosecuting racist incidents.  Mr. Guan welcomed educational seminars and training of citizens as part of the programme on Kyrgyz jarany (Kyrgyz citizen).  What measures were in place to ensure that law enforcement officers did not engage in racial profiling?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said Kyrgyzstan was committed to its obligations under the Convention and took every effort to prevent racial discrimination.  A bill on the rights of minorities had been prepared to strengthen legal mechanisms to prevent racial discrimination.  However, Parliament had called for the revision of this bill to consider different views and proposals; this process was ongoing.

    Kyrgyzstan was a poly-ethnic State. As of January 2025, the State had a population of 7.2 million.  The 2022 census revealed that Kyrgyz, Uzbeks, Russians, Uyghurs and Kazakhs represented the largest ethnic groups.  Citizens had the right to voluntarily report their ethnic identity in the census.  The Constitution enshrined the equality of all citizens regardless of their nationality or ethnicity.

    Discrimination in all forms was prohibited in Kyrgyzstan.  No person could be discriminated against based on race, ethnicity or other characteristics.  The State provided judicial protection from all forms of discrimination.  Courts treated people equally regardless of their ethnicity.  All persons subjected to discrimination could file a complaint with the courts.  The Supreme Court had called on the State party to revise laws that contravened the Constitution.  In cases of serious crimes such as murder and ill-treatment, discriminatory motives based on race, ethnicity, religion, language or other grounds were considered to be aggravating circumstances and could be qualified as crimes against humanity.

    The Ministry of the Interior provided 1,000 hours of training for newly recruited law enforcement officers, which included classes on human rights, international human rights law, and preventing all forms of discrimination.  Disciplinary cases had been brought against 5,400 officials in recent years.  A service had been established for submitting complaints against law enforcement officers. There were 53 cases related to racial discrimination in 2023 and 47 in 2024.  The judicial academy, from 2019, had also trained 429 judges on international human rights standards.  There were judges of Russian, Tartar and Kurd ethnicity in the Supreme Court.

    The Office of the Ombudsperson provided oversight on human rights issues in the State.  A new constitutional law on increasing the independence and powers of the Office and bringing the Office in line with the Paris Principles had been developed.  Recently, the Office’s budget had been increased to allow it to carry out its activities more effectively.

    Follow-Up Questions by Committee Experts

    GUAN JIAN, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, asked whether the national statistics committee had a fixed term for carrying out the next census.  How many staff members did the Ombudsperson’s Office have and what were their roles?  What were the sources of its funding and what was its annual budget?  How did it work with courts and law enforcement?  Did the Office have branches in each region of the country?

    A Committee Expert said racist incidents in the country seemed to have increased over the years, but disciplinary measures against the police seemed to be decreasing.  In how many disciplinary cases had police officers been convicted?  What were the outcomes of disciplinary proceedings?

    One Committee Expert congratulated the State party on having completely eradicated statelessness.  Did the State party ensure the independence of the Council of Human Rights, which was under the President’s Office?  What findings had the Council made?  How did it cooperate with civil society?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said that currently, 115 persons worked for the Ombudsperson’s Office, which had branch offices in seven regions.  The Office’s financial resources had increased each year in recent years.  The Office had departments for oversight on human rights and children’s rights, a complaints department, and a department for judicial activities.  The Office monitored the rights and freedoms of citizens during both open and closed judicial proceedings.  It cooperated with law enforcement agencies and monitored the compliance of these agencies with their human rights obligations.

    All law enforcement agents underwent training activities on human rights.  Disciplinary offences for police officers were not administrative or criminal processes; they were internal processes.  Persons could submit complaints against officers via social media and email.  If investigations found that crimes had been committed, cases were transferred to the Prosecutor’s Office.  There had been an increase in complaints recently, which had led to an increase in disciplinary proceedings, but around half of complaints were found to be groundless.

    The Kyrgyz jarany (Kyrgyz citizen) project promoted respect for diversity, social cohesion and statehood. Under the project, some 23 regions had established offices that carried out monitoring and activities to prevent interethnic conflicts, including meetings with ethnic community representatives and training activities.

    The State programme on the development of border areas aimed at improving the living conditions of the population in these areas, strengthening the State border and reducing internal migration.  There were plans to develop infrastructure, agriculture and electrical supply, and reduce natural disasters in these areas.  The comprehensive programme of socio-economic development of regions was also in place, which included policies for the development of mountainous and border regions.

    Questions by a Committee Expert

    MAZALO TEBIE, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, said public offices responsible for interethnic issues had received 167 requests in 2022 related to preventing discrimination against ethnic groups.  What follow-up was given to these requests?  Could the delegation provide data on investigations into crimes motivated by racist hate speech and hate crimes occurring online and in the media? How did the State help victims to access legal aid and support services?

    Reportedly, women and girls belonging to ethnic minorities, such as Uzbeks, Tajiks and Dungans, and rural women remained underrepresented in the public and political sphere, and patriarchal norms and socio-economic barriers restricted their access to education and professional opportunities.  How were they encouraged to participate in public and private life?  What measures were in place to prevent gender and ethnic stereotypes?  Were there quotas or mechanisms to ensure fair representation of women from ethnic minorities in decision-making bodies?  How did the State party support access to basic social services for minority women?

    Members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex community had reportedly faced difficulties in accessing health services, and were frequently exposed to blackmail, intimidation, extortion, as well as arbitrary arrests and ill-treatment. What measures were in place to include these persons in awareness raising campaigns, prevent and investigate discrimination and violence against them, and ensure their access to legal protection?

    There were reports of restrictions of rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, association and opinion in the State party.  Human rights defenders and journalists were frequently exposed to threats, stigmatisation, arrests, arbitrary detentions, and sanctions such as fines, expulsions or closures of entities.  Kyrgyzstan had fallen 50 places in the 2023 World Press Freedom Index, to 122nd out of 180 countries.  What was being done to prevent the intimation of human rights defenders, to guarantee freedom of expression and other fundamental freedoms, and to release detained journalists, human rights defenders and non-governmental organization leaders?

    In 2024, the President promulgated a law on “foreign agents”.  How would the State party address concerns related to this law, which seemingly could force some non-governmental organizations to close or self-censor?  What safeguards were in place to ensure that civil society organizations could operate freely, regardless of their foreign funding?  Many non-governmental organizations had reported an increase in negative attitudes to their work by State representatives.  What measures were in place to protect non-governmental organizations from interference and intimidation by public authorities?

    A general ban on public assemblies had been imposed in 2022 to prevent certain peaceful assemblies.  Why was this ban introduced?  How did the State party ensure that citizens could exercise their right to freedom of assembly?  What measures were planned to prevent abuses of this ban by the police? Were there any redress mechanisms for citizens sanctioned under this ban?

    New laws had been implemented that banned wearing of religious clothing, including the niqab, in public spaces, and proselytising outside places of worship.  Why had these new restrictions, which ran the risk of violating the right to freedom of religion, been introduced?  How did the State party protect the right to freedom of religion and prevent religious minorities from being marginalised by these laws?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said non-profit organizations played an important part in life in Kyrgyzstan, helping to solve societal problems.  Amendments were brought to the law on non-commercial organizations in 2024 that aimed to ensure transparency and accountability for these organizations. Inclusion of these organizations in the State register ensured transparency in their finances.

    The State party banned discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons, who were guaranteed equal access to justice.  In one case, it was found that a television station had recorded a member of this community without their permission; the station was issued with a fine in response.

    There were 21,000 civil service employees, of which 35 per cent were women.  There were 340 members of minority groups in the civil service. There were no quotas for employment in the civil service.

    The draft bill on freedom of worship and religious associations sought to bring State legislation on religion in line with international norms.  It included regulations on registration of religious organizations and sites and labour relations in such organizations.  Freedom of worship was a fundamental right enshrined in the Constitution and the legal system.  There was no ban specifically on religious clothing, only a ban on covering one’s face in public institutions.  Religious organizations could not proselytise, but there were no other bans on their activities.

    Under State law, no one had the right to restrict peaceful assemblies.  Laws prevented citizens from being forced to participate in meetings. Public authorities needed to ensure public safety, and could ban public meetings that threatened public order.

    A new bill on the media had been prepared in 2022.  The bill was now under review in the President’s Office.  Representatives of the media fully supported this bill, which prevented the spread of disinformation online.  In 2025, only 25 complaints related to online hate speech had been received by the State; the State had moved to block websites in response in seven cases.

    Questions by Committee Experts

    MAZALO TEBIE, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, said that the State party had established several measures to prevent discrimination against minorities.  How did it evaluate the effectiveness of these measures? Could women wear the niqab?  How did the State party ensure freedom of religion?

    There was a phenomenon in Kyrgyzstan called “ala kachuu” (bride kidnapping), in which young women or girls were abducted by men and forced into marriage.  This practice was said to mainly affect women and girls from rural communities, and from marginalised and vulnerable groups.  What actions had been taken to ensure the effective implementation of laws prohibiting the practice, and to raise awareness among rural communities about women’s rights?  What support services were available to abducted women and girls?  Did the State party have up-to-date data on the most affected ethnic groups or regions?

    Another Committee Expert asked whether there was a framework for the participation of minorities in all law-making processes.

    FAITH DIKELEDI PANSY TLAKULA, Committee Expert and Follow-Up Rapporteur, said that the Committee’s previous concluding observations had called on the State party to implement the views of the Human Rights Committee and pardon Azimjan Askarov, considering his poor health.  The Committee deeply regretted that he had passed away five days after the State party had reported that his health was improving.  What measures were in place to protect human rights defenders, journalists and non-governmental organizations working on the rights of ethnic minorities from reprisals?

    A Committee Expert welcomed that there were thousands of civil society organizations in the State party.  Did they take part in meetings preparing for the current dialogue?  How many of these organizations had been banned?

    Another Committee Expert said that in one court case concerning an attack against homosexual persons, the court had sent back the case to the prosecution.  What happened to the case after this?  Was the fine issued to the television station for recording a member of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex community without their permission sufficient?

    GUAN JIAN, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, welcomed measures to promote the protection of equal rights for all ethnic groups.  The Committee had previously expressed concern about the low living standards of the Mughat, characterised by high unemployment and school dropout rates; land expropriation, home demolitions and forced evictions, disproportionately affecting Uzbeks from Osh and Jalalabad and frequently carried out in the absence of due process guarantees; discrimination against Uzbeks in access to work; and the absence of remedies for persons arbitrarily dismissed from their posts following the events of 2010.  What measures were implemented to address the Committee’s concerns?

    Parliamentary deputies’ seats had in 2021 been reduced from 120 to 90.  Representatives of minority ethnic communities had held 16 seats in 2021. What impact did the reduction of seats have on the representation of ethnic groups?  As of 2022, some 11 per cent of members of local councils and four per cent of State and municipal administration staff were members of minority ethnic groups, while 3.1 per cent of police officers were from minority groups. What measures were in place to increase minority representation in these bodies and the judiciary?

    Mr. Guan welcomed the State party’s efforts to promote multilingual education.  The law on education stated that educational services could be provided in a foreign language.  Were minority languages considered to be “foreign languages”?  What financing was provided for multilingual education? There were only 2,450 ethnic Uzbeks, 125 ethnic Tajiks, and 417 Dungans studying in their mother tongues in Kyrgyzstan in 2021.  Why were these numbers so low?

    Many institutions had been established by the State party to address interethnic tensions, such as the public advisory councils on interethnic relations; community liaison offices; the monitoring centre of the Ministry of Culture, Information, Sport and Youth Policy; and the interagency commission.  Were these organizations run by the State or non-governmental organizations?  What were each of their tasks, including in implementing the Kyrgyz jarany (citizens of Kyrgyzstan) plan?  What personnel did these institutions have, how were their powers divided, and how did they cooperate with law enforcement?

    Related to June 2010 ethnic violence in the south of the State, among a total of 5,642 criminal cases initiated by law enforcement agencies, proceedings had been suspended in 3,919 cases, a majority of the cases, while inquiries were being conducted.  What data could be provided on these suspended cases?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said bridal theft was a form of violence against women.  This crime was punished under criminal legislation and punishments had recently been strengthened.  Persons who abducted women for the purpose of marriage were punished with up to seven years imprisonment, or up to 20 years for the abduction of minors.  No amnesty was provided to perpetrators.  In 2022, courts found 42 individuals guilty of these crimes.  In all schools, a special subject was taught that addressed kidnapping and abductions, explaining that these actions were crimes.

    Some 97 per cent of children in the State party attended schools.  The State promoted education in native tongues and official languages.  More than 4,000 children were being taught in the Uzbek language, and there were also special schools teaching in other minority ethnic languages such as Tajik.

    Currently, there were around 1,500 members of ethnic minorities serving as civil servants, some 35 per cent of whom were women.  There were three representatives of minority ethnic groups currently serving in Parliament. Uzbeks, Dungans, Russians and Kazakhs were represented in parliamentary deputy seats, five per cent of which were held by women.

    After the events of June 2010, more than 5,300 criminal cases had been launched and more than 300 people had been brought to justice, including one life sentence conviction.  Investigations were based on respect for human rights and ethnicity was not a factor in the consideration of cases.  Kyrgyzstan was committed to carrying out fair trials in line with international standards.  There were some 42 cases involving murder, and several cases involving destruction of public and private property.  Some three billion som in damages were incurred by the State.

    Regarding the death in custody of Azimjan Askarov, the central prison hospital had diagnosed him with pneumonia and had provided him with treatment; however, he had rejected this treatment, leading to his death.  An investigation into the death was ongoing.

    The case of an alleged attack on homosexual people had been dropped after being returned to the prosecution. Regarding the case of a transgender girl recorded by a television station, courts provided financial compensation for moral damage, considering the degree of damage caused and the circumstances of the case.

    Questions by Committee Experts

    GUAN JIAN, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, called for more detailed information on public works undertaken in Osh city without the permission of local residents, and the situation of the Mughat community, some members of which were relocated after their lands were flooded.  Were affected people provided with compensation?

    A Committee Expert said that racial discrimination and climate change inhibited access to health for the Mughat community.  How did the State party promote access to health, safe food and drinking water for this community, and access to reproductive health rights for its women and children?

    Another Committee Expert asked whether parents who refused to send their children to school were criminally prosecuted by the Ministry of Justice.

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said the State party was implementing a project to digitally register all newborns, which had promoted 100 per cent registration of births in the Mughat community.  Some 95 per cent of the Kyrgyz population had access to drinking water.  The State party was building water pipelines to increase access to drinking water in remote communities, including to the Mughat community.

    Citizens had the inalienable right to healthcare services, regardless of their ethnicity or other characteristics. The programme on State guarantees approved in 2023 aimed to improve access to medical services for vulnerable groups and increase the quality of health services.

    Parents were required to send school age children to school.  They had the right to choose the language of education and between public and private schools or homeschooling.  A bill had been developed that called for fining of parents who refused to send their children to school.

    The State party had identified sites for demolition in Osh in a project to develop public roads.  Some 69 million som had been provided in compensation to persons whose homes or property were affected.  Persons who felt that their property rights had been infringed by State development projects could file complaints in court.

    The Coordinating Council on Human Rights was an advisory council that sought to improve the implementation of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the State party.  Headed by the Deputy Prime Minister and including representatives of State authorities and the Ombudsperson, it coordinated the preparation of reports to international treaty bodies and implementation of these bodies’ recommendations.

    Parliament included representatives of national ethnic groups, who were involved in drafting legislation.  A web portal had also been set up that allowed citizens to make comments on legislative proposals.

    Questions by a Committee Expert

    MAZALO TEBIE, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, said the Committee welcomed the State’s initiatives regarding the protection of refugees, including planned accession to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, and the national action plan on migration management for 2022 to 2025. However, there was a high rate of rejection of applications for refugee status, and some refugees reportedly lived in precarious conditions, including in overcrowded temporary shelters with limited access to healthcare, clean water and education.  Uyghur, Uzbek and Chechen refugees and asylum seekers were reportedly extremely vulnerable.  What measures were in place to protect the rights of refugees and asylum seekers and promote access to residence?

    In 2024, protests against migrants had been held, leading to violence against foreigners with legal residence status.  What measures were in place to prevent violence against foreigners, including irregular migrants, and to provide victims with support? Migrants employed in the agricultural and construction sectors often faced precarious working conditions, with limited access to health and support services.  What measures were in place to protect the rights of migrant workers, establish clear standards for the employment of migrants, and promote their integration into society?  Were there institutions that assessed working conditions for migrants? 

    Nearly one in four Kyrgyz citizens migrated to neighbouring countries to work.  These emigrants reportedly struggled to access basic services in host countries.  Why did many women choose to emigrate?  What measures were in place to support them, including in Russia?  There were some Kyrgyz nationals in Syria and Iraq that were reportedly waiting to be repatriated.  How was the State party supporting their return?

    The Committee had received reports of numerous cases of extradition of refugees and asylum seekers, including Uyghurs from China and Uzbeks.  How did the State party prevent refoulement?  How many extradited migrants had been subjected to refoulement?

    The State party had implemented a law that guaranteed the civil registration of all children.  Kyrgyzstan was also the first country in the region to have resolved all known cases of statelessness; this was commendable. However, the Government had proposed amendments in 2023 to the citizenship law that prevented the conferral of Kyrgyz citizenship to the children of foreign parents born in Kyrgyzstan. This could lead to statelessness. How was the State party bringing its legislation on statelessness in line with international standards?

    What measures had been taken to provide continuous training to judges and lawyers on human rights, discrimination and the application of the Convention?  How many judges and lawyers had been trained?

    Responses by the Delegation

     

    The delegation said that in Kyrgyzstan, refugees had the right to health and education services and the right to freedom of movement.  The State assessed each application for refugee status in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and promoted the integration of refugees into society.  From 2019 to 2024, the State party had received around 300 appeals against decisions to refuse refugee status.  Around 140 of these cases had gone to the cassation court, which had decided to grant refugee status in some cases.

    Kyrgyzstan upheld the principle of non-refoulement.  Extraditions could not be carried out if there was suspicion of the person involved being subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. Kyrgyzstan worked with international partners to assess risks in individual cases.  In 2024, the State party extradited 49 foreign citizens, including seven to the Russian Federation.  None of these persons had requested refugee status.

    Some 37 criminal cases had been initiated in response to violent incidents relating to 2024 protests against migrants.  The State party was carrying out activities to prevent broad-scale violations against foreign nationals, including ongoing informational activities.  Local populations now understood better the rights of foreign nationals.

    State laws regulated the situation of stateless persons in Kyrgyzstan.  Efforts to address statelessness were ongoing.  The State party had devised procedures for providing the children of stateless persons with identification documents, including the 2024 project that ensured 100 per cent issuance of birth certificates to newborns.

    Consular services provided for the protection of Kyrgyz citizens abroad, including migrant workers.  The Ombudsperson’s Office received complaints of rights violations from migrants and implemented response measures. Children of Kyrgyz migrants needed to be able to speak basic Russian to attend school in the Russian Federation; the State party thus provided Russian language courses to these children.

    The State party had trained 429 judges in 2025 on international human rights standards.  The judiciary was committed to promoting diversity and equality.

    In 2021, the State party repatriated more than 400 citizens from Iraq and Syria, including children.  Measures had been implemented to promote the reintegration and rehabilitation of these citizens and prevent their stigmatisation.

    Questions by Committee Experts

    MAZALO TEBIE, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, asked whether only foreigners who did not have refugee status could be extradited.  The Committee hoped that the law implementing the 1951 Refugee Convention and the 1967 Protocol would be adopted soon.  If foreign women who were married to Kyrgyz men divorced, did their children keep Kyrgyz nationality?  Why did the State party require foreigners to take HIV tests? The State party had developed a “compatriots of foreign nationality” card.  Who were these “compatriots of foreign nationality”?

    A Committee Expert said there had been a reported drop in teaching of the Uzbek language after the 2010 violence. Were nation-wide examinations conducted in the Uzbek language for students learning in that language?

    Another Committee Expert asked if training course for judicial officials addressed the application of the Convention in civil and criminal cases.  Were there examples of judicial decisions where the Convention was applied?

    A Committee Expert congratulated the State party on eradicating statelessness as of 2019, and for developing a statelessness determination procedure.  Kyrgyzstan needed to ratify the statelessness conventions and share its best practices with other nations.

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said that under national legislation, refugees could not be extradited.  The State party waited until processes considering applications for refugee status concluded before considering extradition.  Two draft bills on acceding to the 1951 Refugee Convention and 1967 Protocol were currently under consideration.

    If one parent had Kyrgyz nationality, children could receive Kyrgyz nationality, regardless of the location of their birth.  Children of stateless parents born in Kyrgyzstan were also granted Kyrgyz nationality.  Persons could lose Kyrgyz nationality if they served in the army of a foreign State or if they received citizenship after submitting falsified documents.  Kyrgyz citizens could change their citizenship only once; persons needed to submit documents proving their ethnic identity to change their citizenship.  Divorces were not grounds for changing citizenship.

    To enrol in universities in Kyrgyzstan, students needed to sit the General Republican Exam in either Kyrgyz or Russian.

    Kyrgyzstan did not required foreigners to submit a certificate showing that they were HIV-negative when applying for a visa.  Information related to HIV tests was not made public.  Forced tests were carried out in a confidential manner based on court decisions.

    Courts could apply international conventions directly.  All criminal cases related to the June 2010 events had been closed, but affected persons had the right to appeal cases and seek compensation.

    The children and grandchildren of Kyrgyz citizens who lived overseas had the right to apply for the “compatriots of foreign nationality” card, which allowed them to live and work in Kyrgyzstan without additional residence or work permits.

    Closing Remarks

    MICHAL BALCERZAK, Committee Chair, said the dialogue had been very constructive, addressing many issues.  The information provided by the delegation would allow the Committee to develop targeted concluding observations.

    GUAN JIAN, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, thanked the State party for its contributions to the dialogue, which had helped to make it a success.  He expressed hope that the State party would follow-up on remaining unanswered questions and closed by thanking all persons who had contributed to the dialogue.

    MARAT TAGAEV, Deputy Minister of Culture, Information and Youth Policy of Kyrgyzstan and head of the delegation, said that the Committee’s comments and questions would help the State party to strengthen measures to promote equality and prevent discrimination. Kyrgyzstan would continue to take active steps to prevent racial discrimination and implement the Convention, working in collaboration with civil society.  The State party would work to implement the Committee’s recommendations and to build an inclusive and just society.

    __________

    Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media; 
    not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

     

    CERD.25.08E

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi lays foundation stone, inaugurates development works worth over Rs 58,000 crore in Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh

    Source: Government of India

    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi lays foundation stone, inaugurates development works worth over Rs 58,000 crore in Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh

    The development works launched today will strengthen infrastructure and accelerate the growth of Andhra Pradesh: PM

    Amaravati is a land where tradition and progress go hand in hand: PM

    NTR Garu envisioned a developed Andhra Pradesh, Together, we have to make Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh, the growth engine of developed India: PM

    India is now among the countries where infrastructure is rapidly modernising: PM

    Viksit Bharat will be built on four pillars – poor, farmers, youth and Women power: PM

    The Navdurga Testing Range to be built in Nagayalanka will strengthen the country’s defense power just like Maa Durga, I congratulate the country’s scientists and the people of Andhra Pradesh for this: PM

    Posted On: 02 MAY 2025 6:44PM by PIB Delhi

    The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated, laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation multiple development projects worth over Rs 58,000 crore in Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh today. The Prime Minister expressed that standing on the sacred land of Amaravati, he does not see just a city but a dream coming true—a new Amaravati, a new Andhra. “Amaravati is a land where tradition and progress go hand in hand, embracing both the peace of its Buddhist heritage and the energy of building a developed India”, remarked the Prime Minister. He added that today, foundation stones and inaugurations have been laid for projects, and these projects are not just about concrete structures but the strong foundation of Andhra Pradesh’s aspirations and India’s vision for development. Prime Minister Modi extended his greetings to the people of Andhra Pradesh, offering prayers to Bhagwan Veerabhadra, Bhagwan Amaralingeshwara, and Tirupati Balaji. He also conveyed his best wishes to Chief Minister Shri Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Shri Pawan Kalyan.

    Remarking that Indra Lok’s capital was once called Amaravati, and now Amaravati is the capital of Andhra Pradesh, Shri Modi  emphasized that this is not a mere coincidence but a positive sign for the creation of ‘Swarna Andhra’, which will strengthen India’s path toward development. The Prime Minister highlighted that Amaravati will energize the vision of ‘Swarna Andhra’, making it a center for progress and transformation. “Amaravati is not just a city, it is a force, it is the strength that will transform Andhra Pradesh into a modern state and a power that will transform Andhra Pradesh to an advanced state”, stated Shri Modi in Telugu.

    Envisioning Amaravati as a city where the dreams of Andhra Pradesh’s youth will come true, the Prime Minister highlighted that in the coming years, Amaravati will emerge as a leading city in Information Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Green Energy, Clean Industry, Education, and Healthcare. The Prime Minister remarked that the Central Government is fully supporting the State Government in rapidly developing the necessary infrastructure to accelerate growth across these sectors.

    Shri Modi lauded Shri Chandrababu Naidu’s acumen for envisioning future tech on a large scale and implementing it swiftly. He recalled that in 2015, he had the privilege of laying the foundation stone for Praja Rajadhani, emphasising that over the years, the Central Government has extended comprehensive support for Amaravati’s development, ensuring all necessary steps for basic infrastructure. He remarked that with Shri Naidu’s leadership, the new state government has accelerated development efforts. He highlighted that key institutions, including the High Court, Assembly, Secretariat, and Raj Bhavan, are now being prioritized for construction.

    “NTR Garu envisioned a developed Andhra Pradesh”, exclaimed the Prime Minister, urging collective efforts to make Amaravati and Andhra Pradesh the growth engine of a developed India, reaffirming the commitment to fulfilling NTR Garu’s dream. Addressing the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister, the Prime Minister said in Telugu that it is our responsibility and something we must achieve together.

    Emphasising that over the past 10 years, India has focused extensively on physical, digital, and social infrastructure, Shri Modi highlighted that India is now among the fastest-modernizing infrastructure nations in the world, and Andhra Pradesh is benefiting significantly from this progress. He noted that thousands of crores worth of road and rail projects have been allocated to Andhra Pradesh, accelerating its development. “Andhra Pradesh is witnessing a new era of connectivity, which will enhance district-to-district links and improve connectivity with neighboring states”, he stated, stressing that farmers will find it easier to access larger markets, and industries will benefit from improved logistical efficiency. Shri Modi also highlighted that the tourism and pilgrimage sectors will also gain momentum, making key religious sites more accessible. He cited the Renigunta-Naidupeta Highway as an example, stating that it will significantly ease access to Tirupati Balaji shrine, allowing devotees to visit Lord Venkateswara Swami in much less time.

    Prime Minister emphasized that countries that have rapidly developed have given immense importance to their railway networks. He highlighted that the past decade has been a transformational period for Indian Railways, with the Government of India allocating record funds for railway development in Andhra Pradesh. The Prime Minister pointed out that between 2009 and 2014, the combined railway budget for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana was less than ₹900 crore, whereas today, Andhra Pradesh alone has a railway budget exceeding ₹9,000 crore, marking an increase of more than tenfold. “With the enhanced railway budget, Andhra Pradesh has achieved 100% railway electrification”, stated the Prime Minister, noting that the state now operates eight pairs of modern Vande Bharat trains, along with the Amrit Bharat train, which passes through Andhra Pradesh. He further highlighted that over the past 10 years, more than 750 rail flyovers and underpasses have been constructed across the state. Additionally, the Prime Minister stated that over 70 railway stations in Andhra Pradesh are being modernized under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, ensuring world-class infrastructure for passengers.

    Underscoring the multiplier effect of infrastructure development, highlighting its direct impact on the manufacturing sector, Shri Modi  noted that raw materials such as cement, steel, and transportation services benefit significantly from large-scale infrastructure projects, strengthening multiple industries. He stressed that infrastructure development directly benefits India’s youth, creating more employment opportunities. He remarked that thousands of young people in Andhra Pradesh are gaining new job prospects through these ongoing infrastructure projects.

    “The foundation of a developed India rests on four key pillars—the poor, farmers, youth, and women empowerment”, the Prime Minister reiterated his statement from his address at Red Fort. He emphasised that these pillars remain central to their government’s policies, with special priority given to farmers’ welfare. He highlighted that to reduce the financial burden on farmers, the Government of India has spent nearly ₹12 lakh crore over the past 10 years to provide affordable fertilizers. He remarked that thousands of new and advanced seed varieties have been distributed to farmers, boosting agricultural productivity. The PM said that under the PM Fasal Bima Yojana, farmers in Andhra Pradesh have received claim settlements worth ₹5,500 crore. Additionally, under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, more than ₹17,500 crore has been directly transferred to the accounts of lakhs of farmers in Andhra Pradesh, ensuring financial support for their livelihoods, he added.

    Emphasising that India is rapidly expanding irrigation projects across the country, along with launching river-linking initiatives to ensure water reaches every farm and farmers do not face water shortages, Shri Modi underlined that with the formation of the new state government, the Polavaram Project has gained fresh momentum. He stated that millions of people in Andhra Pradesh will see their lives transformed by this project. He reaffirmed that their government is fully supporting the state government to accelerate the completion of the Polavaram Project.

    Underlining Andhra Pradesh’s pivotal role in establishing India as a space power over the decades, the Prime Minister said that every mission launched from Sriharikota fills millions of Indians with pride, inspiring the country’s youth toward space exploration. He announced a major development in India’s defense sector, stating that a new defense institution has been established. He also mentioned that the foundation stone has been laid for DRDO’s new missile testing range. The Prime Minister emphasized that the Nava Durga Testing Range in Nagayalanka will serve as a force multiplier for India’s defense capabilities, drawing strength from Maa Durga’s divine power. He extended his congratulations to the nation’s scientists and the people of Andhra Pradesh for this landmark achievement.

    “India’s strength lies not just in its weaponry but in its unity”, said the Prime Minister, highlighting that this spirit of unity is further reinforced through Ekta Malls, which are being set up in cities across the country. He announced that Visakhapatnam will soon have its own Ekta Mall, where artisans and craftsmen from across India will have their products showcased under one roof. He noted that these malls will connect people with India’s rich diversity, while boosting the local economy and strengthening the “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat” vision. 

    The Prime Minister announced that this year’s International Day of Yoga (21st June) marking the 10th edition will be celebrated at Andhra Pradesh and he would also attend it. He urged the people to undertake more activities on Yoga in the next 50 days and set a world record. Remarking that Andhra Pradesh neither has shortage of dreamers nor achievers, the Prime Minister expressed confidence that the state is on the right path and has picked up the right speed for growth. He urged for sustained momentum in accelerating Andhra Pradesh’s progress and concluded by reassuring his unwavering support, stating that he will stand shoulder to shoulder with them.

    The Governor of Andhra Pradesh, Shri Syed Abdul Nazeer, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu, Union Cabinet Ministers were present among other dignitaries at the event.

    Background

    In line with his commitment to ensure world-class infrastructure and connectivity across the country, Prime Minister inaugurated 7 National Highway projects in Andhra Pradesh. These Projects include widening of various sections of National Highways, construction of Road over bridge and subway among others. These projects will further enhance road safety; create employment opportunities; provide seamless connectivity to religious and tourist places like Tirupati, Srikalahasti, Malakonda and Udayagiri Fort among others.

    Prime Minister also dedicated to the nation railway projects aimed at enhancing connectivity and boosting capacity. These projects are doubling of the rail line between Bugganapalle Cement Nagar and Panyam stations, enhancing connectivity between Rayalaseema and Amaravati and construction of a third rail line between New West Block Hut Cabin and Vijayawada stations.

    Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone of 6 National Highway projects and one Railway project. These Projects include widening of various sections of National highways; construction of elevated corridor,  half clover leaf and Road over bridge among others. These projects will improve connectivity, inter-state travel, reduce congestion and improve overall logistics efficiency. Construction of Rail over Rail between Guntakal West and Mallappa gate stations aims to bypass freight trains and reduce congestion at the Guntakal Junction.

    Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for multiple infrastructure projects that include the Legislative Assembly, High Court, Secretariat, other administrative buildings and housing buildings for over 5,200 families, worth over Rs 11,240 crore. It will also include trunk infrastructure and flood mitigation projects featuring a 320 km world-class transport network with underground utilities and advanced flood management systems, worth over Rs 17,400 crore. The Land Pooling Scheme Infrastructure projects will cover 1,281 km of roads equipped with central medians, cycle tracks, and integrated utilities across the capital city of Amaravati, worth over Rs 20,400 crore.

    Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone of Missile Test Range at Nagayalanka in Andhra Pradesh worth around Rs 1,460 Crore.  It will comprise a launch center, technical instrumentation facilities, Indigenous Radars, Telemetry and Electro-Optical systems enhancing the country’s defence preparedness.

    Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone of PM Ekta Mall at Madhurawada in Visakhapatnam. It has been envisioned with the objective of fostering national integration, supporting the Make in India initiative, promoting One District One Product, generating employment opportunities, empowering rural artisans, and enhancing the market presence of indigenous products.

    *****

    MJPS/SR/SKS

    (Release ID: 2126248) Visitor Counter : 148

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Yoga Sangam embodies global solidarity for health — a powerful movement uniting humanity through Yoga and beyond: Shri Prataprao Jadhav

    Source: Government of India

    Yoga Sangam embodies global solidarity for health — a powerful movement uniting humanity through Yoga and beyond: Shri Prataprao Jadhav

    Yoga Sangam Portal Launched

    Nashik celebrates Grand Yoga Mahotsav, more than 6000 practice common yoga protocol in unison

    Posted On: 02 MAY 2025 12:51PM by PIB Mumbai

    Nashik/Mumbai, 2 May 2025

     

    Nashik, the land of Mahakumbh, witnessed a grand celebration of Yoga as over 6000 enthusiasts came together to mark the 50-day countdown to the International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2025 at the Yoga Mahotsav organised by Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY), Ministry of Ayush. Held at the spiritually significant Gauri Maidan in Panchavati, the event not only celebrated India’s rich Yoga tradition but also marked the launch of the Yoga Sangam Portal — a digital platform for online registration towards facilitating the synchronized nationwide celebration of IDY 2025 on 21st June at more than 1,00,000 locations across India.

    The programme was inaugurated by Shri Prataprao Jadhav, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Ayush, and Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare. Addressing the gathering, the Union Minister emphasised the importance of Yoga and said that, “Nashik is a sacred city blessed by the presence of great souls, and visiting it filled me with pride and joy. Yoga, once an integral part of Indian tradition, is now flourishing within the international community.”

    He further added that the Government of India is leaving no stone unturned to make IDY a success and stated, “Thanks to the tireless efforts of the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today, Yoga forms the foundation of life for millions around the world. As part of efforts to take its benefits to every individual, the International Day of Yoga 2025 is being celebrated as a decade-long global festival.”

    While launching the Yoga Sangam Portal, he said, “Today, on Nashik’s sacred soil, we’ve launched the ‘Yoga Sangam Portal’ for online registration, marking a significant step towards International Day of Yoga 2025. Yoga Sangam embodies global solidarity for health, and through initiatives like these, International Day of Yoga is becoming a powerful global movement that unites humanity, promoting Yoga and beyond.”

    “Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga and the Ministry of Ayush deserve heartfelt congratulations for their contributions to this decade-long journey of Yoga.” ” he added.

    It is to be noted that Yoga Sangam, one of the ten Signature Events of the International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2025, is a groundbreaking initiative unfolding a decentralised, yet synchronised mass Yoga performance at 1,00,000 locations across India. It will take place on 21st June 2025, the International Day of Yoga. This event will weave a harmonious tapestry of well-being nationwide, as hundreds of thousands of individuals unite under Yoga’s enabling shield. The sheer scale of participation in the event will create a powerful ripple effect of positive energy nationwide.

    Yog Mahostav at Nashik also witnessed the esteemed presence of  Shri Bhaskar Murlidhar Bhagare, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha, Nashik; Smt. Devyani Suhas Pharande, MLA, Nashik Central; Smt. Seema Hiray, MLA, Nashik West;  Shri Rahul Uttamrao Dhikale, MLA, Nashik East; Lieutenant General Dr. Madhuri Kanitkar, Vice Chancellor of Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS); Dr. Vishwas Mandlik, Head, Yoga Vidya Gurukul, Nashik; and Ms. Monalisa Dash, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Ayush as distinguished guests.

    Ms. Monalisa Das, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Ayush, delivered the welcome address at the event. While extending her greetings to all the distinguished guests, she remarked that “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” — the world is one family — is one of India’s greatest guiding principles and a true symbol of global brotherhood and harmony.”

    A special emphasis was laid on the Common Yoga Protocol during today’s Yoga Mahotsav. Developed with inputs from leading Yoga experts, the CYP is designed to help individuals integrate day-to-day Yoga practices such as Pranayama and Dhyana into their lives enhancing flexibility, strength, balance, and overall harmony. The Government of India’s Yoga Portal serves as a valuable platform encouraging citizens to embrace, practice, and enjoy Yoga daily.

    Following the addresses, demonstrators from the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga, led by Dr. Kashinath Samagandi, Director, MDNIY, performed a live demonstration of the Common Yoga Protocol. The session saw the active participation of more than 6000 Yoga enthusiasts, creating a vibrant atmosphere of collective energy and discipline. The event was streamed live across various social media platforms of the Ministry of Ayush, MDNIY, and other prominent Yoga institutions.

    The Yoga Mahotsav at Nashik marks a significant step in the run-up to IDY-2025, reaffirming the Government of India’s commitment to promoting holistic health, wellness, and environmental sustainability through Yoga.

    Before this, MDNIY and the Ministry of Ayush had organised a Yoga Mahotsav on March 13, 2025, at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, marking the 100-day countdown to IDY-2025. Similarly, a grand event was organised on April 7, 2025, on the occasion of the 75-day countdown at Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar.

    10 unique signature events to guide events to the International Day of Yoga 2025. This year, IDY activities will revolve around 10 unique signature events to mark the 11th edition of the global event, which makes it the most expansive and inclusive:

    • Yoga Sangam – A synchronised Yoga demonstration at 1,00,000 locations.
    • Yoga Bandhan – Global partnerships with 10 countries to host Yoga sessions at iconic landmarks.
    • Yoga Parks– Development of 1,000 Yoga Parks for long-term community engagement.
    • Yoga Samavesh – Special Yoga programs for Divyangjan, senior citizens, children, and marginalised groups.
    • Yoga Prabhav – A decadal impact assessment on Yoga’s role in public health.
    • Yoga Connect – A Virtual Global Yoga Summit featuring renowned Yoga experts and healthcare professionals.
    • Harit Yoga – A sustainability-driven initiative combining Yoga with tree planting and clean-up drives.
    • Yoga Unplugged- An event to attract young people to Yoga.
    • Yoga Maha Kumbh – A week-long festival across 10 locations, culminating in a central celebration led by the Prime Minister.
    • SamYogam – A 100-day initiative integrating Yoga with modern healthcare for holistic wellness.

    Yoga Sangam Portal can be accessed through the following link: https://yoga.ayush.gov.in/yoga-sangam

     

    Annexure

    The International Day of Yoga (IDY) has become a global wellness movement, uniting millions across countries. Here’s a brief look at its key milestones:

    • IDY 2015 – New Delhi: The first IDY at Rajpath saw 35,985 participants, setting two Guinness World Records.
    • IDY 2016 – Chandigarh: 30,000+ participants gathered at the Capitol Complex, including 150 Divyangjan performing Yoga Protocol for the first time. The Prime Minister emphasised Yoga’s role in treating ailments like diabetes.
    • IDY 2017 – Lucknow: 51,000 participants joined at Ramabai Ambedkar Maidan, with Yoga highlighted as affordable ‘health insurance’.
    • IDY 2018 – Dehradun: 50,000+ participants at Forest Research Institute, with the theme “Yoga for Public Health”. ISRO launched the BHUVAN-Yoga and Yoga Locator apps.
    • IDY 2019 – Ranchi: Focused on ‘Yoga for Heart Care’, with eco-friendly Yoga accessories benefiting Khadi artisans.
    • IDY 2020 – Virtual: Amid the pandemic, 12.06 crore people joined online. The “My Life, My Yoga” contest attracted entries from 130 countries.
    • IDY 2021 – Virtual: Themed “Yoga for Wellness”, reaching 496.1 million people globally. Iconic celebrations occurred at Times Square, the Eiffel Tower, and Tokyo Skytree.
    • IDY 2022 – Mysuru: 15,000 participants at Mysore Palace, with a ‘Guardian Ring’ global Yoga relay and VR-powered digital exhibition.
    • IDY 2023 – Jabalpur & UN HQ, New York: With 23.44 crore participants, this IDY set two Guinness World Records, including the most significant Yoga session (1.53 lakh participants in Surat). The ‘Ocean Ring of Yoga’ covered 35,000 km.
    • IDY 2024 – Srinagar: Held at SKICC, Srinagar, with 7,000 participants braving the rain. The ‘Yoga for Space’ initiative saw ISRO scientists join in. A Guinness World Record was set in Uttar Pradesh, with 25.93 lakh people pledging to Yoga. 24.53 crore global participants marked this as a historic celebration.

     

    * * *

    PIB Mumbai | A.Chavan/D.Rane

    Follow us on social media: @PIBMumbai    /PIBMumbai     /pibmumbai   pibmumbai[at]gmail[dot]com  /PIBMumbai     /pibmumbai

    (Release ID: 2126073) Visitor Counter : 45

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: AIR MARSHAL NARMDESHWAR TIWARI PVSM AVSM VM TAKES OVER AS VICE CHIEF OF THE AIR STAFF, INDIAN AIR FORCE

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 02 MAY 2025 5:17PM by PIB Delhi

    Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari PVSM AVSM VM took charge as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff, IAF on 02 May 25.

    The Air Marshal completed his schooling at Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC) in Dehradun before joining the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasala, He passed out from NDA in Jun 1985 with the President’s Gold Medal. He was commissioned as a Fighter Pilot in the Indian Air Force on 07 Jun 1986. The Air Marshal has over 3600 hours of flying experience on various types of aircraft. Besides being a Qualified Flying Instructor and an Experimental Test Pilot, the Air Marshal is a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College, USA. He has also served as Directing Staff at the IAF Test Pilots’ School and the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington. His extensive field experience encompasses operational testing of various weapons and systems, including a key role in operationalising the ‘Litening’ Laser Designation Pod during the Kargil Operations in 1999. He was actively involved in the flight testing of the LCA from 2006 to 2009 and later in 2018-19, wherein, as the Project Director (Flight Test) at the National Flight Test Centre, he was involved in the Final Operational Clearance of the aircraft. The Air Marshal served as the Air Attache at Paris from 2013 to 2016. He has also held appointment Deputy Chief of the Air Staff at Air HQ (VB).

    Prior to assuming charge as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff, he was the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief at South Western Air Command. In recognition of his distinguished service, the Air Marshal was awarded the Presidential Award of Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 2025, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2022, and Vayu Sena Medal in 2008.

    He is married to Mrs. Richa Tiwari, a postgraduate in Cytology. The couple is blessed with two daughters.

    ***

    VK/JS/SM

    (Release ID: 2126201) Visitor Counter : 21

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –